Chapter Text
They called them dragonseed – the descendants of Targaryen men, either bastards or born from the rule of the First Night that King Jaehaerys eventually did away with. Lucerys had always felt uncomfortable walking through the streets and villages that lay below the shadow of Dragonstone, passing men and women who sported much more Valyrian features than he did. Lucerys and his brothers better resembled the Starks of Winterfell than the home of the Prince of Dragonstone.
He could see it in their eyes, as he passed – why him? They had the same blood in them, the same fires of Valyria boiling in their veins. It was only the circumstances of their birth, that had Lucerys in jewels, and these people in rags.
Lucerys couldn't answer them, why he was different, why he looked the way he did. He couldn't speak truth to the rumors of his parentage, but every moment that he saw his own reflection, the thoughts came to him. It was why he’d turned down becoming Lord of Driftmark. It was why he didn’t marry the Lady Rhaena. He'd not dishonor them in such a way, by inviting the slander and hate that he’d lived with. Or maybe, if he was honest with himself, he was simply afraid. Of the ocean, of the responsibility of marriage.
Lucerys was better off here, watching over Dragonstone, with the rest of the dragonseed. It kept him away from the Red Keep, away from the conflicts and drama. It may have lessened since his mother took the Iron Throne, and sent away those who challenged her, such as Ser Otto to Hightower. But, the rumors persisted none the less, and Lucerys grew tired of it.
He heard a noise, a small cry from an alley as he made his way towards the docks. Lucerys thought it to be a kitten, or a pup. The castle was in need of a good ratter, which drew him to walk towards the noise, away from the watchful eyes of the Kingsguard stationed on Dragonstone.
Lucerys saw a small bundle inside a crate, wrapped in tattered blankets and old fishing nets. Something immediately seemed wrong to him, they looked bloodstained and filthy. It was too large to be a kitten. Then, his eyes caught a glimpse of movement.
He could see a hand.
Small, human, pale.
Lucerys fell to his knees, unwrapping the linens with shaking fingers, as his guards seemed to take notice he was missing. He heard armor falling in next to him, but Lucerys’ focus was pointed. A little face was revealed suddenly, red cheeked, with a head of black dark curls.
It was an infant, of only a few moons. Certainly not newborn, but Lucerys dare not think it even a year. A boy, it seemed, undressed as it were.
“Poor wretch,” Cargyll said behind Lucerys.
"We should take it to a Septa."
It was missing an eye. The same as Aemond.
The wound still looked red and fresh, it was swelling, and the infant looked slim. Lucerys picked him up gently, wrapping his cloak around the babe to keep it warm.
“Send someone ahead, to get Maester Gerardys.” Lucerys said, trying to stay quiet as the boy whimpered in his hands.
“Go!”
Lucerys looked down into the one open eye of the small boy. Purple. His eyes had been purple. He had Targaryen blood in him too. Lucerys brushed his thumb along the child’s cheek, his chest feeling tight and warm.
He knew in that moment, he’d do anything to protect this boy.
“Hello there,” Lucerys whispered down at him.
“Don't be afraid, sweet boy. I won’t leave you.”
“Prince Lucerys?” A maid stepped in, bowing her head.
“Prince Aemond Targaryen, Master of Laws, is here to speak with you.”
Lucerys sighed from his chair, hoping that when he saw Vhagar fly in, that his uncle was only here to claim a dragon egg from the dragonmount. Daeron had gotten married recently, and part of their peace agreement was that each of the Lady Alicents children would be allowed a dragon egg for their offspring, as long as there were eggs available after Rhaenyra's children and and grand children had claimed theirs.
“Come in, uncle.” Lucerys called, rubbing his hand on his son's back. He'd had fits of stomach problems as he healed, colic making him cry something awful. But, he was strong. He'd overcome so much already, Lucerys wasn't worried. Simply tired, unwilling to give the child to the wetnurse for more than a few hours, if at all.
Aemond entered the room, looking as he normally did – black dashed with gold, and his eyepatch that now featured a Targaryen dragon sigil. His uncle looked down at Lucerys with a quirked brow and something close to amusement teasing at his lips.
"I'm sorry I'm not in a better state to receive your company." Lucerys apologized, but they both knew he didn't mean it.
“I’d heard rumors, but I have to admit I didn't expect this.“ Aemond said lightly, eyeing the infant in Lucerys’ arms.
"You've never given much care towards the women who fawn over you, nephew... Let alone enough to have a child with."
“I'm pleased to see you again too, uncle." Lucerys frowned, getting up cautiously as he could, trying not to disturb the infant in his arms. He'd gotten bigger than when he'd first found him, legs suddenly awkward and strong enough to kick with good force.
"I can only imagine the contents of said rumors.”
“The most common, of course, is that you had a bastard. None too shocking, they're saying. Given….” Aemond trailed off, not one to so loudly commit treason, but the effect was the same. He looked particularly pleased with himself, smiling the whole while.
“However, I must admit, my particular favorite is that you’re secretly in possession of a womb. Which is why you turned away so many marriage proposals. And that the babe is my bastard. I'm not certain where I came from in these myths, but they are entertaining.”
Lucerys shook his head, the imagination of a bored court was simply astonishing. Though, he supposed he knew where the connection to Aemond came from.
“He’s not related to me, I found him in the streets. He was an orphan.” Lucerys told him, moving him into his arms so Aemond could see him.
“But, he's mine now, even if my mother refuses to recognize him as of yet. Meet Aurane, Aurane Waters.”
Aemond got quiet, smile falling from his face, his form growing quite still. He'd noticed Aurane’s eye.
“How many eyes do you need, nephew? Was mine not enough for you?” Aemond’s voice was pure venom, stinging on his ears, but Lucerys pushed it from his mind.
“He was half dead when I found him,” Lucerys said, smiling down at the child. It was hard not to, he'd find himself smiling at the boy for no reason other than he was here, in his arms.
“Maester Gerardys believes that he was likely used as a sacrifice, and that's why they removed his eye. Children born of non Valyrian features aren't as well appreciated by the small folk here. We had to stitch the eye closed to prevent further infection.”
"Sacrifice?" Aemond repeated the word, like it was something filthy.
"They maimed him for-"
"Looking more Valyrian than I do, yes." Lucerys answered.
Lucerys looked up, and reached out to grab Aemond's arm with his free hand. He'd not interacted with Aemond much in the last number of years, and he most certainly didn't make a habit of touching him. The bad blood between them sometimes felt like a river that they'd never cross. Aemond scared him, often times, if he was being honest. But Lucerys didnt fear him now, as his uncle froze up at the touch. Lucerys was able to bring Aemond's hand in his, to touch Aurane’s hair.
“This is my uncle Aemond.” Lucerys told his son as one purple eye cracked open, looking up into Aemond’s with confusion at the disturbance.
“Say hello, Aurane. He's your family.”
Aurane gurgled something, small brows knit together as he stared up at Aemond with concentrated interest. But then, it turned to happy squeaks, and a small chubby hand reaching up, towards the older man. Lucerys watched Aemond as well, to gauge his uncle’s mood, but was surprised to see a very fond expression cross the man's face.
Aemond was also unmarried, turning down all suitors. It wasn't too late for him, but his siblings had all had children. Aegon and Helaena no longer lived together, but their daughter still lived. Daeron was a father. Jacaerys and Baela had children. Joffrey was engaged. The blood of the dragon was thriving.
Only Lucerys and Aemond remained without.
“May I?” Aemond asked, and Lucerys passed the small bundle to him without thinking more of it. Aemond held him a bit stiffly, but with no risk of dropping him.
“...He’ll need support when training time comes, learning to fight with one eye is a challenge.”
Lucerys took in the details of Aemond’s eye patch, the gold stitching of it. The sharp and jagged edges of the scars above and below.
“Then I will be asking you for help, uncle, when the time comes.” Lucerys said, leaning in to kiss Aurane’s closed eye.
“I won't accept anything but the best for him.”
When Lucerys looked back up, Aemond was watching him. A look of silent acceptance, that maybe the blood and hate they'd spilled in the past was beginning to move behind them. Lucerys never be as tall as his uncle, at nine and ten, his growing years were likely over. He'd never be as talented a warrior, he would never win a tourney, but Lucerys had long since stopped mourning those things.
He was happy now, to be a father. He wanted Aurane to have a good life, with family who loved him. Including Aemond.
“I suppose I'll have to watch over him then,” Aemond said slowly.
“He is our son, after all, is he not?”
Lucerys began to laugh. Maybe leaning into the rumors would be more interesting than ignoring them.
In the kitchens of King's Landing, a serving girl whispered to another.
That the prickly Prince Aemond "One Eye" Targaryen, and the realms delight, Prince Lucerys Velaryon, had done the unthinkable. Lady Alicent had been seen talking to the Queen in hushed whispers. Prince Aegon II was heard laughing about it while in his drinks. Prince Jacaerys had flown to Dragonstone with little warning, and an angry look on his face.
Yes, the girl whispered, Prince Aemond and Prince Lucerys had been wed.
Not only that, but they had a son as well.