Chapter Text
Aemond POV
His head nodded forward as a yawn escaped his lips. He slowly opened his eye and was met with Lucerys' sleeping face. His legs had gone entirely numb hours ago. He noticed that Arrax was closer to them with his wing outstretched over Lucerys' legs. It was brighter out; morning had arrived, but the clouds above were still gray; Aemond was not delighted. He was sore from staying in the same position all night; he was hungry and thirsty, and he needed to move his legs.
He looked around and noticed that Vhagar was gone. He tried reaching out through the bond but couldn't sense his dragon. Where could she have gone? He knew he couldn't feel her when she was far away, but could her side of the bond feel him at such a distance? He sent all his anger and frustration through the bond, demanding her return as if it could reach her.
He stared down at Lucerys. The bastard was snoring …. on his lap. The snoring he could deal with. It was easier than listening to all the crying and whimpering of his nephew, and Arrax had done all night. Lucerys had spent nearly all of the night crying out in pain. Aemond had watched with fascination and confusion as the markings across his chest came alive with small fire trails that started on his shoulder and spread across them. It had become his only source of light and heat during the dark, cold, wet night. He almost was lured into reaching out and touching it to see if it would burn him, but the heat radiating off the trails was hot enough that Aemond had no choice but to believe what he was seeing. So he just watched as the fire died, only for the process to repeat itself. This whole situation confused Aemond, and he didn't like feeling confused.
Aemond was deep in thought when the tip of Arrax's nose brushed against the left side of his face. Ever since he lost his eye, that side of his face had been slightly more sensitive. So Aemond hissed at the dragon, moved his face away, and pushed the dragon's nose aside. Arrax dared to look offended, and then he whimpered. Arrax cocked his head to the side, stared at Aemond, and again placed his nose against Aemond's cheek. Aemond couldn't explain it, but he felt something was off about Arrax. Dragons typically weren't overly friendly with humans who weren't their riders. Even dragons who spent their whole lives around humans weren't affectionate to anyone but those who had claimed them. He would bet his remaining eye that this had something to do with his nephew.
Aemond closed his eye briefly and leaned into the dragon. He wondered if Arrax remembered him from their younger days. He smiled, remembering how Lucerys would run around and hide from his mother with Arrax nestled among his curls. Aemond never understood why he would try to hide the little white and gold dragon among his dark hair. It seems that Lucerys was stupid from the very beginning. A feeling of anger and jealousy for things he should've had bloomed within him. Aemond moved away from the dragon.
Aemond looked down at Lucerys, and he was suddenly enraged. Everything he ever wanted, Lucerys got. Lucerys' egg had hatched, his father had loved him fiercely and had proudly called him his heir. He had a brother who actually cared for him and Rhaenyra as a mother.
He had wanted a mother who would love him just because she wanted to and not out of some sense of duty. His mother favored him over Aegon because he did the opposite of everything Aegon did, yet Aegon was the one she stood by and crowned King. Lucerys got Rhaenyra. No matter how much he disliked his older sister, he couldn't deny that she loved her kids fiercely and loyally. He had spent his earlier years wondering how it would be to have a mother like Rhaenyra, who would constantly show her love and affection. He remembered watching as Rhaenyra would check on her sons when they were away from her for too long, not to scold or order them around, but to kiss their foreheads and ask how their day had been so far.
As he got older, he understood that his mother would only love him if he met her expectations of what she considered good. So he studied hard, trained even more brutally, and didn't step out of line as Aegon did. He understood that, in a way, he was buying her love and attention. She wouldn't have loved him if he didn't, which scared him. He knew Lucerys never had to worry about Rhaenyra loving him. How was any of this fair? He closed his eye as he remembered his childhood with Lucerys. Despite the many pranks aimed at him, Lucerys had tried to be his friend.
A hand against his cheek broke him out of his thoughts, and Lucerys voice, soft, barely louder than a whisper, asked.
"Why are you crying?"
He hadn't noticed he was crying and slapped Lucery's hand away from his face and roughly wiped aside any evidence of tears. He had an insult ready to go, but before he could reply, a roar across the sky signaled to Aemond that Vhagar had returned.
Lucerys POV
The pain across his body had changed to a severe soreness. Luke knew that wasn't normal. His mind had become much more precise than the last time he was conscious. He and Arrax had somehow survived a lightning strike and a crash without a single injury beyond soreness. And, of course, there was the fire. Even now, he could feel the extra heat in his body, but it wasn't suffocating or hurting; it felt soft. He felt stiff as he moved his head to look at Arrax, surprised to see Aemond crying.
Luke didn't know how to feel seeing his uncle in such a state. He wanted to know why Aemond cried. Luke didn't even think Aemond could cry. Aemond, who had called him Strong at the dinner not long ago, Aemond, who had claimed Vhagar. The same Aemond who didn't even shed a tear when he was stitched up after Luke had..... he didn't want to finish the thought. He couldn't deal with the guilt that came with that memory right now. Luke reached out his hand, his body reacting faster than his brain, and touched Aemond's face. His throat was dry and rough as he asked him why he was crying, and the slap across his hand that followed was loud in his ears.
Vhagar had landed on the water with a loud splash. Luke's hand froze near Aemond's cheek, but no longer touched it. Then Aemond looked angry, and Luke dropped his hand and closed his eyes. If he denied it happened, maybe Aemond wouldn't kill him just yet. Luke expected to get yelled at and pushed off by his uncle, but nothing happened. He slowly opened his eyes again, and Aemond was watching him. His face was composed and neutral, which Luke didn't like because he couldn't tell what was happening in Aemond's head.
"Can you get up?"
Aemond had asked in a soft voice. It caught Luke off guard, and all he could do was nod.
"Then, nephew, get up."
Luke sat up slowly, groaning from the soreness in his muscles as he moved. He could hear Aemond sigh in relief as he finally moved. For the first time, Luke took a good look at the damage to his body. He noticed the caked blood on one side and the long scratches. They stung as curiosity got the better of him, and Luke touched them. He knew these would heal, but what made him panic was the sizable snaking line from shoulder to hip with hundreds, if not thousands, of little ones coming off it. If Luke had to guess, he was bearing the mark of the lightning that struck him. The lines were warm to the touch and a bit tender. He stopped touching them when they started glowing.
He wasn't scared, maybe a bit confused. Whatever was happening to him, he didn't feel like it would hurt him. But he did remember what could have happened to Aemond if it hadn't been for Vhagar. The thought that he could have injured or killed him shook him. He smiled a bit as he heard Aemond arguing with Vhagar. It was a one-sided argument as Vhagar raised her head and looked at the sky.
It was the most human his uncle had been since they were children. Aemond placed his hands on his hips and tapped his foot. Luke thought he looked like a disappointed parent scolding the trouble-making kid. Luke finally lost it when Aemond pointed a finger up at Vhagar and said
"I don't care that you were bored, you old bag of bones, you shouldn't have left."
Luke surprised himself with the laughter that erupted from him. He saw Aemond turn to look at him, clearly upset at both Vhagar and now, possibly at Luke for laughing, but he couldn't stop.
"How embarrassing for you... The strong bastard is laughing at you, Vhagar."
Luke's laughter died down to soft chuckles, and then the tears came. The crying surprised him, but he couldn't stop. He cried because he was tired. He cried because he had failed to get Lord Barros. He wept because the Aemond before him wasn't someone he knew. He shed tears because he wanted to go home. Arrax placed his head against Luke's chest and rubbed his head across his chest. The fire within reacted to Arrax, and Luke felt a wave of calmness come over him. Luke still cried softly, pressing his forehead against Arrax. He felt the fire reach out to Arrax, and the bond between them was sang happily. Luke couldn't describe what had happened next, but the fire, the bond, him, and Arrax suddenly clicked. He felt even more connected with Arrax. Their bond connected them, but this felt like more. Luke remembered conversations with the other dragon riders in his life, in which they told him how they each interpreted the bond differently. No bond was ever the same, and how a rider and dragon communicated was unique to the pair, Daemon had told him.
Don't cry... Don't cry... I'll protect you. Don't cry... I'm here
The voice made Luke snap his head up and look around. Whose voice was that? Aemond had his back turned to him. It wasn't him. Of course, it wasn't him. Arrax brushed the tip of his nose across Luke's forehead.
Don't be sad... You will heal... My fire will heal you and keep you safe.
Luke stares in disbelief. No! He stands on shaking legs, watching Arrax watch him. He has to be going crazy if he thinks that Arrax.... no, no, this is all a dream.
I wonder why you are so confused... promise I'll get us home somehow.
Luke reaches out his hand. Arrax immediately meets his hand.
" Arrax, can you understand me ?"
Arrax closes his eyes, and Luke hears a chuckle.
Of course, I can understand you! You're my rider!
Luke frantically places his hands on the sides of Arrax's snout.
" Arrax, I can hear you!"
It's quiet as he stares at Arrax. He feels confusion come from the bond.
Can you hear me?
Luke nods.
My words?
"Yes! Words!"
Luke says, all excited, almost yelling it. The happiness and excitement that explode through the bond overwhelm Luke. He starts crying again.
The fire! It's my fire! It's our fire! It's not going to hurt you!
Arrax's excitement overwhelms him. He wanted to ask about the fire, but another voice, this time louder, a bit deeper, and somehow commanding, interrupts their moment with a question.
The little rider understands?
Luke looks up, and he stares at Vhagar. He doesn't say anything; he stares. Then Luke looks at Arrax, then back at Vhagar. He nods slowly, finally finding his voice.
"I understand you."
Vhagar's face was close to him in the blink of an eye. Luke felt his stomach drop. Vhagar is obviously massive, but having her attention on him, being so close, Luke was more surprised that he didn't faint.
Interesting!
Before Luke could say or do anything, Aemond stood before him, blocking Luke from Vhagar.
" Stay away from Lucerys."
Luke watched, confused, as Aemond placed both hands on Vhagar and pushed away. The size difference truly made Luke feel faint. He was again reminded that his uncle had somehow claimed the mountainous beast. Arrax moved slowly between Luke and Aemond, and once again, more distance was added between Luke and Vhagar. Arrax pressed his head against Luke's chest and pushed him back. Luke took the steps back slowly.
He's protecting you from her... I don't know why
Arrax sounded confused. Luke nodded in understanding and took a few more steps back. Luke felt worried and scared; he knew Arrax sensed it through the bond.
He protected us.....You! Through the night....watched over you as you cried out in pain....he won't let his dragon hurt you.
Luke stared at Aemond's back and noticed how rigid it was. He hadn't moved. He just stood there. Aemond protected us? And why would Vhagar want to attack me? Finally, Vhagar moved, raising her head to her full height.
I don't want to hurt you..... Lucerys, I'm just intrigued.
Hearing his name from Vhagar sends a shiver down his spine, and Luke is acutely aware of how he must look. Barely any clothes on, bloody and glowing. For some reason, he's hyper-aware of his appearance. He crosses his arms across his chest. Arrax moves away and lies down, exhaustion pouring through the bond. Luke takes the steps leading him back to Aemond.
Aemond POV
He doesn't understand, nor can he explain the protectiveness he felt towards....the bastard. Vhagar's sudden fascination with Lucerys confused and terrified him. For a split moment, he thought she would eat him, and his mind went to one word: Kinslayer. Even if he wasn't the one killing, his dragon was supposed to be under his control. It would be seen as an attack from him—aggression from their side. The label of Kinslayer would cause them trouble. No one would willingly align themselves with a Kinslayer and bring a curse upon their family. He wasn't stupid. He knows Aegon would lose support. Well, maybe not lose support, but there will be reluctance. He couldn't make trouble for Aegon. His mother would disapprove of this behavior, but it was always something about Lucerys that made him react.
A warm hand on his back pulls him out of his thoughts. His reaction is so sudden that when he turns quickly, Lucerys takes a quick step back and falls. He gets a little satisfaction from seeing him on the ground, caked in blood, looking up, scared of him. He was going to say something, perhaps an insult, but something else caught his attention.
NO! NO! NO! I'm not seeing this right...what other explanation could there be?
He needs water. He looks around, his eye scanning the ground. He finally finds a small puddle of water. His hands move quickly. He hastily rips the bottom of his shirt, dips it into the water, then turns to Lucerys and walks to him purposefully. Lucerys looks confused and startled as he reaches him and grabs him by the face. He isn't gentle when he turns Lucery's face to the side. Lucerys protests and slaps his hand away, but he tightens his grip. He hears Lucerys try to speak, but he squeezes his face harder while taking the damp piece of shirt and wipes Lucerys' temple, removing the caked blood.
Nothing! There's nothing there!
Lucerys has stopped protesting as he moves his head to the other side, swiping at his caked arm. He steps back and throws the piece of clothing at Lucerys. It slaps his chest, then it falls to the ground. There were no injuries. None. His mind spiraled. How? What the hell was going on?
His anger gets the best of him, and he has his dagger in his hand and is ready to launch at Lucerys. He breathes deeply and watches him. Struck out of the sky by lightning and suffering injuries he thought were gonna leave him scarred and damaged. Yet there he stands. barely clothed with the mark of the lighting on his body and fire claiming him. He drops the dagger.
Was this a sign? Was this proof that they are wrong and Rhaenyra belongs on the throne? Her bastard was struck out of the sky, and he stands there like nothing. Were the gods showing him what he needed to see? Lucerys calls his name, and he glares.
" Are you even in pain?" The question comes out almost in disgust.
Lucerys looks confused, but he answers.
" Not in terrible pain. more like soreness after a long training day."
Aemond looks at him. He wanted to hit him. Punch the bastard that took his eye. He wanted to let Vhagar eat him. He wanted to do so much to him. But he surprised himself when all he said was.
" Get ready. Im escorting you back to DragonStone."