Chapter Text
Rhaenys sits proudly atop Meleys, not paying heed to the shrieks and screams of those who just a few seconds ago cheered as they witnessed the highest treason. As the ones unfortunate enough to be in the way of the Red Queen are crushed beneath her weight, their screams die with them. Soon, all is silent.
She surveys the people standing in front of her, locking eyes with each traitor, disgust painting her features, saving Alicent for last.
“Oh, dear cousin . You tell me I should have been queen instead of Viserys, yet here you are usurping the throne from the named and rightful heir on the reasoning that this named heir is a woman. In truth, I pity you; dragged around, plucked of individuality, and puppetted around by the men in your life. You continue to surround yourself with these controlling cockbrained leeches, and even place your life in the hands of the most bitter lovesick puppy. That scorned man grew to hate Rhaenyra, and so needed a new cunt to be his master. He did quite well for himself; the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. The most despicable part is that you have allowed it. You let these men use you, some in the very worst of ways, and you are content there. You know these truths, yet you choose to remain in that prison cell, with only a window to gaze from to daydream of yourself, free of their control. You know who your firstborn son is, what he has done, and what he’s likely to do now that you have given him more power than anyone in the Realm, and yet you conspired and committed treason to seat him on the Iron Throne, all because he has a cock between his legs. I know the real master of these plans is your father, and they likely all have been, but you were complicit and that makes you just as guilty.”
Alicent stands in front of her son the usurper, shielding him with her body. Of course, she cannot save him from Meleys’s dragon fire, but there she stands. Regret floods her mind, washing over every thought and action she has ever had. If she had been more vigilant and recognized her father’s and the small council’s schemes she could have stopped it. She could have stepped out of the way of Rhaenyra. She knew Viserys was not talking about their son when he was heaving and wheezing the words into her ear about a dream. She knew it in her soul, but the spark of hope the delusion ignited was too intoxicating to let go of, to not hold on to. Maybe now her father will finally be sated. Maybe all of this duty and this suffering she’s endured will finally mean something. But she should have known. How foolish she has been. And now her children are going to burn. Tears have begun to stream down her face. Her Queenly composure shattered.
Aegon thinks to himself, as he clutches at his mother’s arm, that he has never seen his mother cry. It makes everything worse. He is going to die today. They all are.
“House Targaryen has always been above mere men because of our dragons. And here you all are: Aegon, Helaena, Aemond, at the complete mercy of one. My sweet Meleys. One word and I can end this war before Queen Rhaenyra even knows one has been declared against her. One word and I can prevent bloody battles, the deaths of thousands, the end of House Targaryen, the end of dragons. We all know that if dragon fought dragon, it will mean their extinction, yet you all have shown that this consequence is of no importance to you.”
Aegon never realized until this moment that he didn’t truly want to die. He has drunk himself in oblivion in the hopes of alleviating the dull ache that is life, and at times he thought the only cure would be death. But as he stares in the unforgiving eyes of this dragon, he now knows he has never wanted to die.
Aemond stands slightly in front of Helaena, his arm swung back shielding her. What can he do to protect her from this dragon? He can’t, but it would be unthinkable not to try. He listens to Rhaenys’s words, and curses his grandfather and mother for bringing them all here. He knew they would never let Rhaenyra ascend the throne and it wouldn’t be easy to take it from her. He did not imagine this would be the consequence. If the gods ever sent a sign that Aegon should not be king, this is a blinding one. He and his entire family are going to die today. He steps back closer to Helaena. He feels her fingers brush down his left arm. He shivers.
Helaena saw this. She saw this at the dinner. She didn’t know when it would happen. Or why. But she saw it. And here it is. The beast beneath the boards, come to smite them all. For a second she is exhilarated. She was right. No one has ever listened to her dreams, but they cannot ignore this one. She was right . She never wanted to be queen, never wanted Aegon to be king. Never wanted to be his wife. Her fingers wrap around Aemond’s arm and squeeze, trying to provide comfort for their coming doom. She has made peace with it quite easily. It is shocking to be staring at the face of death, teetering on cliff. But then she thought of what her fate would have been if Rhaenys hadn’t burst through the floor. Falling and falling and falling and being split open in three different parts. Impaled. Falling and dying and dead. This was better, she thinks. Cleansed in dragonfire. She thinks of her children. Rhaenyra is merciful. She will not punish them for the sins of their parents and grandparents. She will raise them to be princes and a princess. She will care for them as her own, Helaena just knows this to be true. She is not afraid, at least not like she can feel her mother is, her tears illuminating her face. Not like Aegon, who grips his mother like he’s a babe once again. And not like Aemond, who fears for more than himself. She steps up beside him as she basks in Rhaenys’s words. She wraps her arms around his middle, rests her head on his shoulder, turning just so to kiss it. It is ok, brother. Soon we will be free.
“While locked in my chambers I had time to plot my escape from your hold, and I determined that I must protect my grandchildren, if nothing else. While any of you Greens breathe, they are in danger. You have proved as much today. I know you three children have been pawns in your mother’s and grandfather’s desperate ploys for power and I am truly saddened that it has led you to this moment, but you must understand I cannot sit idle and allow this highest of treasons to occur.
After this day, I might be known not just as The Queen Who Never Was, but Kinslayer. If killing my kin is the price to pay to prevent a civil war and to protect the only real family I have left, I will gladly make the sacrifice.”
Otto Hightower has always known this would be his end. He willingly lived in a pit full of dragons, and has dodged their fire for decades. But he can avoid it no longer.
“Otto, you say this is the most saddest of days and also the most joyous of days, and on that we heartily agree. Sad because my dear cousin has passed, sad because the people he loved have betrayed him and his wishes in the most vile of ways. Joyous because Rhaenyra has no knowledge of this treachery yet, and joyous because I am going to end this war before it has drawn its first breath.
… Dracarys .”