Work Text:
"Can you tell I'm angry? Smile when I say something nice."
The Green Team has won one war.
Helaena had already lost her son, but Aegon, still reveling in his victory, rode with his wife atop a carriage around the Red Keep to the praise of the people.
The petals fell to them like wings, and Helaena made a face as if she were not pleased.
"Smile."
Aegon laughed falsely, waving to the people, and gently placed his hand on the back of hers.
Helaena waved reluctantly, forcing a smile at his patronising manner.
He is hailed by his people as a king with visions of 'victory' and 'glory', but to his wife and family, he is labelled as 'arrogant' and a 'recalcitrant'.
She'd known him for who he really was all along, and his duplicity only creeped her out.
I felt like Aegon was crazy for not feeling pity and compassion for the child, more than anything else.
/
Aemond, strolling through the sky on his Vagar, landed somewhere in the forest with a cool breeze.
"Well done, Vagar."
He patted the side of the face of the giant-sized dragon that had been flying for some time.
He walked firmly, without hesitation, through a gap in the dense, straight trees.
He was walking straight ahead.
It was one of those clear, cloudless days in King's Landing.
Continuing on his way, Aemond slowed his pace slightly as he reached his destination.
Under one of the many trees, he spotted a small tower of small stones, closely piled together, and knelt down on one knee before it.
She drew her sword from its sheath at her waist and laid it on the ground for a moment, then gingerly touched the stone with her hand and closed her eyes tightly, as if in pain, at the laughter of a young boy she remembered over and over again.
'I'm sorry, son. 'My son, will you please forgive me, my poor boy?
The stone tower was significant because it held memories of his son, Jahaerys.
He had not long forgotten his son.
For a moment his mind was confused, as if the spirit of his young son was calling out to him.
[ Uncle Aemond, this stone looks like a star, and I'll make you one too! ]
He looked at Jahaerys's big eyes, chubby cheeks, and small lips, smiling so brightly that he could almost see his old self smiling back at him, a happy smile full of truth.
The secret of their twin origins, which he had to keep hidden until his death, was known only to his beloved Helaena.
Poor Jahaerys, who had never been able to call him father.
Aemond's eyes flushed as he realised that his child's death was the result of his past mistakes.
The sound of the people cheering in the Red Keep in King's Landing seemed to reach him, and in a dramatically different mood, he wiped his tears from his eyes and rose to his feet, sword in hand.
"My good boy."
He smiled awkwardly at her, his face full of longing until the end.
Aemond turned his back on the stone tower and headed back the way he had come.
/
Inside the Redcap, the night was already long past sunset, the landscape empty.
As usual, as always, Aegon strode into Helena's bedchamber, dressed as if in a drunken stupor.
She had put her children to bed and was alone with her embroidery when Aegon burst into the room, and she jumped to her feet in embarrassment.
Always, when Aegon was drunk, he was often lying in his room, unable to keep his wits about him, but once in a while, to her surprise, he managed to keep his wits about him and walked towards her.
And Helaena, who hadn't realised it was today.
He staggered to his feet and stood in front of her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Get out of my room!"
Then Aegon wrapped his arms around his sister and wife's face and drew in a breath that tasted of alcohol.
"Huh."
Aegon sneered, as if looking down on her.
"Why, you liked it, don't you remember, and you said yourself that I ignore you except when I'm drunk."
Helaena was terrified that he would take advantage of her again.
She spoke to him through fearful, trembling lips.
"Please stop, go away!"
This time, Aegon squeezed both of her shoulders.
"What do you want from me? She's not even my kid."
"...?!!"
Helaena's heart sank for a moment.
The truth she'd been hiding all her life came out of his mouth.
Unpredictable as ever, she was stunned and unable to recover.
He continued to stare at Helaena with a glint of madness in his eyes.
"How dare you insult the king, my wife."
Aegon was persistent, as if questioning her frailty.
He stepped closer, and Helaena, backing away from his dangerous presence, soon had her back against the wall.
"Say it. To me. Who on earth have you been playing with so brazenly?"
There was no escape now.
If there was any way out, any way to get away from him, she wanted to run.
"Come on, tell me.
"Stop it, Aegon!"
Aegon was about to raise his hand to her,
There was a hand on his wrist from behind, holding him back.
Covering her ears, Helaena slowly looked up, her cheeks stained with tears, her whole body trembling.
"Stop it. Before I kill you."
it was Aemond.
Seeing his sister's terrified expression, the younger brother's eyes only shook gravely.
"....hel...?"