Chapter Text
Lucerys had just left Lord Borros' palace.
A storm was bearing down on the fortress. Wind, rain and thunder
shook the black sky.
Arrax was waiting for him in the square in front of the entrance.
The little dragon was restless, moving his head back and forth
towards the entrance of the palace and then up towards the sky. The rain
beat down on him, his blue scales were wet and streams of clear
water fell into large pools at his feet.
When he saw Lucerys he walked towards him.
"Calm down Arrax, concentrate," Lucerys told him as he moved closer to his side.
He tightened one hand on the saddle and one against his muzzle, trying to
calm the scared little dragon.
Arrax's eyes darted behind him and a growl vibrated through his
body.
A cold hand clamped over Lucerys' mouth, an arm tightened around his
waist, preventing him from moving away.
He tried to scream but his cries were drowned out by the din
of the raging storm and the guards guarding the entrance
didn't seem to notice. He tried to kick his attacker but his
blows missed their target.
"Silence. Calm your dragon and I will do you no harm," Aemond
commanded, speaking against his ear. Aemond's breath was warm,
pleasant against the cold evening air.
Lucerys tried to grab her sword clutched at her side but her
uncle immediately intercepted him, trapping her arm in an iron
grip.
"No rash moves, nephew. I mean you no harm," Aemond said
with sufficient tone and an eye for the guards. Lucerys understood
that if he fought he would not be able to free himself and so he
relaxed against his uncle's body and the hand against his lips
disappeared.
"You threatened, in front of Lord Borros, to take my eye. Your
actions do not seem like those of a man who means me no
harm," Lucerys replied bravely.
He tried to look Aemond in the face but the uncomfortable position he was
in and the pouring rain prevented him from turning.
Arrax had moved a few meters away, looking at the two men with
yellow eyes and a tense body. He understood that he couldn't help his
knight without risking hurting him.
"If I had wanted it you would be dead already," Vhagar who rested beyond
the walls of the manor, raised his imposing body, shaking his head
like an animal annoyed by flies.
The entire palace seemed to vibrate under his movements.
Lucerys bit his pink lips.
In a fight both he and his dragon would be at a disadvantage. Aemond
would have sliced him like a piece of well-baked bread, and Vhagar
would have torn Arrax to shreds.
"I must speak to you. I have a proposition that might interest
you. A better alliance than Lord Borros Baratheon could offer,"
Aemond said, finally setting him free.
Lucerys walked away, immediately approaching his dragon.
If he had deemed it necessary he could have mounted
and escaped. Vhagar was grander and wiser but
Arrax was small and crafty. With any luck they might get
away before Aemond reached his mount.
"Speak," Lucerys ordered, caressing Arrax's muzzle as he watched
Aemond warily. The dragon's breath was so hot that it evaporated the pouring rain.
The young prince wrapped himself in his red cloak, trying to escape the bites of the frost.
Aemond turned his single eye on the guards hidden by the rain.
He doubted they would be able to hear their conversation but
you could never be too safe.
"Not here," he replied, starting to walk away.
Lucerys didn't move but clung to his dragon's side. His
scaled skin was pleasantly warm and his body was a
protection against the rain.
When Aemond realized he wasn't being followed he turned, looking
at his nephew wearily.
"I do not intend to come with you," revealed Lucerys who was
no fool and knew that walking away with his uncle
could lead to his death.
He stepped closer to Arrax and the dragon arched his back like a
cat trying to make himself bigger and more intimidating.
Aemond approached him quickly and grabbed him by the
arm, tugging him as if he were a rag doll.
"I do not intend to argue in this square," Aemond growled into his
face, tugging at the young prince.
Lucerys tried to stop his uncle's advance but the floor was
slippery under his feet and with one step too many he ended
up on the ground. Arrax growled helplessly, fire burned in his mouth
but the flames never left him. Aemond glared at the dragon.
"Call your dragon," Aemond ordered, hauling Lucerys back to his feet. The
young man freed himself from the hold simply because Aemond seemed
tired of the game.
"Why? So you can have me defenseless and at your disposal?" Lucerys
asked, his teeth chattering from the cold. His hair lay flat against his head
and forehead.
Aemond grabbed him by the neck, pulling him closer, and Lucerys dug
her nails into the flesh of his arm, trying to free himself.
"I could strangle you here and now and your little dragon could do
nothing to stop me. Vhagar will swallow him in one gulp," Aemond threatened, tightening his grip.
Lucerys breathed with difficulty, the air passing through his throat was like many small claws that tore him apart from the inside. Aemond released him and Lucerys began to breathe again.
"Follow me without further fuss. I think you understand that if I wish you will die here or elsewhere," Aemond turned his back on him and this time Lucerys followed.
They stopped advancing once they reached Vhagar's flank. Arrax had stopped several meters earlier, keeping his distance from the enormous body. Aemond and Lucerys had moved closer, using the dragon as a shelter from the wind and pouring rain.
Vhagar had bowed his head again, but with one eye half closed she was observing the two knights.
"Speak," ordered Lucerys, who watched the imposing dragon with a watchful eye.
His gaze ran from the reptile to his uncle. He didn't bother to hide the nervousness, he knew perfectly well that he couldn't hide anything from him.
Aemond looked around then lowered his single eye to his nephew.
"My brother is not fit to rule," he said simply. Lucerys seemed confused by those words, he looked at Aemond with a dazed look and his uncle
wondered if while he wasn't looking the little one had slipped and
had hit his head.
"Do you deny your king?" Lucerys asked. Aemond rolled his eyes
and stepped closer, bending his back.
"Aegon is not a king. He will have the name of the Conqueror but
nothing else. On the day of the coronation he fled and only accepted
his role when the people acclaimed him. He seeks attention like
a moth for light but he would be a worse king of Maegor," said Aemond
with an annoyed
look. Lucerys looked at him without saying a word, everything seemed so
confusing to him. “Then why did you become his messenger?” Lucerys asked
huddling in cold clothes. His clothes were stuck to his skin and
now that the rain wasn't constantly beating against his body he was
starting to feel the pangs of frost.
Aemond seemed untouched.
"I couldn't leave. Not without a plan. The safety of Heleana and her children depends on me," Aemond replied, fixing his gaze on him. Lucerys tilted his head, confused.
"And now you have it? A plan?" the nephew asked. A drop separated
from the mass of hair and slid down his face, he quickly brushed it away.
Aemond smiled.
"I offer your mother my sword and Vhagar, but I expect protection and…
the rest is for her ears only," Aemond said, placing a hand
against Vhagar's massive hip. The dragon slowly opened both eyes
and raised her head. Twisting her long neck she brought her muzzle
close to the two knights.
Lucerys swallowed and took a deep breath, facing the dragon.
"Do you mean to come to Dragonstone?" he asked when he felt Aemond's
breath brush against his ear. Again his hand was grabbed
and brought closer to the beast's muzzle.
"Yes," Aemond replied.
Lucerys, at the sight of the teeth, struggled. He tried to escape from his
uncle's iron grip.
Arrax growled, with every step he took his instincts begged him to
move away from the huge dragon.
"Leave me!" Lucerys exclaimed when the closeness was too much. Aemond let him go.
The young prince ran to his dragon and when he finally reached
Arrax he turned to look at Aemond and Vhagar.
The dragon looked at him with the same air of superiority as his rider.
"Lead the way. I doubt your mother will be happy to see me," Lucerys
mounted Arrax and took off. Aemond was immediately behind him.
The roar of the storm was deafening, yet Lucerys could
clearly hear the flapping of Vhagar's wings. His uncle remained
behind him and every time Lucerys turned to check his whereabouts
he shivered. Seeing Vhagar fly so close to him was
terrifying. The dragon's mouth was closed and yet Lucerys could
imagine its jaws open and dripping with blood.
When they arrived at Dragonstone they found Rhaenyra and Daemon waiting
for them.
Queen and Prince Consort looked troubled.
Lucerys slid off Arrax's back and approached his mother
with a quick step. His desire was to run but he didn't want to
appear weak and scared. Not in front of Aemond and his dragon.
Rhaenyra kissed his forehead and caressed his face. Daemon simply
made sure he was okay, his attention fully focused on
Aemond slowly approaching. Just as
at Lord Borros' palace Vhagar stood in the distance, the immense
body as a warning to anyone who decided to approach.
"My Queen, Prince Consort," Aemond greeted them with a slight
bow.
Rhaenyra looked at him, hiding her surprise very well.
She never imagined hearing her stepbrother call her queen.
He looked at his son who smiled shyly, nodding imperceptibly. "You
call me queen and yet you serve a usurping king," she said, taking a
few steps forward, her hands clasped against her round belly. She raised
her face to look at Aemond.
Her stepbrother looked at her with a cheeky smile.
"I have a deal to propose to you. Can we talk about it elsewhere?"
Aemond asked, glancing at the guards surrounding them. Rhaenyra
did the same and slowly, without ever turning her back on him, she
turned to her husband.
Daemon stood by Lucerys' side, the young prince appeared less
nervous, he felt safe in his own home and surrounded by his loved ones.
Or perhaps it was precisely the presence of the Rough Prince that
reassured him. Queen and prince consort looked at each other intently.
Aemond had learned that his half-sister and his uncle had the
innate ability to communicate without exchanging a single word. An entire speech could have been contained in that
look. "I'm not happy to have a Green under our roof but Aemond didn't hurt Lucerys when he could have. I suggest we listen
to the prince's words and if what he says is not of interest
to us I will cut off his head myself," Daemon said, gripping
the Dark Sister's hilt.
Aemond looked down at the sword, it was the same one with which
Vaemond Velaryon had been executed a short time ago.
"No one will lose their heads today, Daemon," Rhaenyra said in an almost
exasperated tone. The Rough Prince shrugged his shoulders and
whispered something in Lucerys' ear. The prince laughed.
Rhaenyra called Ser Erryk back to her and ordered Vhagar to
be guarded.
Then he turned to her son. She sent Lucerys to his room to
change and Daemon sent for Lord Corlys and the princess
Rhaenys, the queen who never was.