Work Text:
Syrax landed in the courtyard of the Red Keep, bypassing the Dragonpit entirely as she snarls and snaps at the few guards daring enough to draw close to her. Her rider descended quickly and seemed to be just as swift to start making demands that Aegon could not hear from his tower prison.
A glance over his shoulder told him that neither of his siblings had moved. Aemond was still curled up in bed, eyes empty as he stared at the wall before him.
Helaena was fiddling with her stitching, but Aegon could see no actual progress had been made. Unusual for his sister and a worrying sign.
“Rhaenyras here.” Helaenas head snapped up at that, jumping up to join him at the window. Even Aemond stirred from where he lay in bed, finally dragging his gaze away from the wall as he sat up at Aegon words.
“I didn’t think the small council meeting was today.” Helaena murmured softly.
“She looked mad.” Aegon added when Aemond frowned at him, leaning against the wall. “Like Syrax spitting fire and landing straight in the Keep courtyard mad.”
The dragon in question had taken off again, roaring in displeasure as she circled around Maegors Holdfast. Specifically, the part that housed the Kings chambers, Aegon was curious to note.
Whatever had their dear father done to anger his favourite child?
Aemond scoffed, burrowing into the bed once again. “She’s probably just pissed that one of her bastards didn’t get such a prestigious marriage.” He muttered bitterly. “As if she wouldn’t have refused it immediately.”
That was true, Aegon could admit. Rhaenyra held no love for them and probably didn’t give a damn that Aemond was to be married to a brutish alpha such as Borros Baratheon mere months after he had lost his eye and subsequently presented. But she would never let one of her own precious sons be subjected to such a horrific fate.
Aegon would never forget the look of despair upon his mother’s face as her she guided her third child through his presentation heat the same way she had Aegon and Helaena. Or the conflicted hope that had flickered across her face as yet another of her children proved themselves to be no threat to Rhaenyras claim.
His father had taken that hope from her when he had decided to accept Borros bid for Aemond hand.
Aemond was lucky, the king had declared to them, oblivious to their horror. Lucky that Borros had decided to overlook Aemonds deformities and offer himself. As if it was Aemonds fault his eye had been cut out!
Their mother had pleaded with her husband, begging him to at least put the marriage off for a few years, to allow Aemond to consider other suitors. All that had done was harden the kings resolve and his queens pleas had gone unheard. Instead Aegon and his siblings had been confined to Aegons rooms while they awaited the arrival of the Baratheon contingent, kept together only because Helaena would not calm down otherwise. Viserys had ordered their mother confined to her own chambers, prevented from seeing them so that she would not be able to do anything to stop the marriage.
Aegon had heard the servants murmuring, of how the king had lost all trust in his queen after Driftmark. How the Hand had barely held onto his own position, saved only by his quick actions in arranging Aemonds marriage.
Aegon simply hummed in response and went back to looking out the window as Helaena returned to fiddling with her embroidery. They remained like that for another hour, ignorant to what was going on outside the walls.
Aegon shot up, coming to stand between his siblings and the door as loud footsteps approached. Vaguely he could hear a woman shouting orders as she approached, anger clear in her voice.
A glance behind him showed Helaena and Aemond had huddled together at the back of the room, Helaena having shoved their younger brother behind her. Swallowing, Aegon returned his gaze to the door. If they wanted to take Aemond, then he would not make it easy on them.
Aegon hadn’t been there to protect Aemond at Driftmark. He would not make that same mistake again.
Aegon flinched as the door slammed open, the scent of an angry alpha wafting into the room masking his siblings bitter fear. Aegon fought the urge to duck his head as his eldest sister stepped into the room, glaring at the guards who had been assigned to the door as they backed away in fright. Ser Harrold, who seemed to have followed Rhaenyra, took their place as he blocked the door.
Her anger faded when she turned to look at them, face twisting in what Aegon swore was relief as she set eyes on them. Footsteps sounded behind her and as Aegons grand sire reached the top of the stairs, Rhaenyra turned to scowl at him, slamming the door shut before Otto could do more than open his mouth.
Huffing Rhaenyra turned back to them, her irritation twisting through the air as her scent blanketed the entire room. Sighing, she gentled her face, scent settling as she took in the way Aegon stood before his siblings, how Helaena curled around a trembling Aemond.
“Where’s your mother?” She hurriedly demanded, steeping forward before rocking back when their scents hitched in fear.
“What-“ Aegon gaped, words eluding him as he stared at his older sister.
“Ser Harrold won’t be able to hold off the Hand for too long Aegon. I need to know where your mother is, quickly.” Rhaenyra explained, glancing over her shoulder when Ottos started demanding to be let in.
“I… I don’t know? Maybe… her rooms?” Aegon stuttered, his brain lagging as he tried to make sense of what was going on.
Why was Rhaenyra here?
Whatever Rhaenyra would have said in response was lost when the door opened, Otto standing in the doorway.
“Princess Rhaenyra.” Ottos voice was tight, eyes glinting in anger. “How… lovely of you to return to court. I’m afraid I must escort you away from here however. The princes and the princess are cloistered, you see. Allowed no visitors on the kings orders.”
“Ser Otto.” Rhaenyra smirked, cocking her head as she regarded her father’s Hand. “Surely I haven’t been away from court so long that the court has lost its manners. Is it not still considered incredibly rude to barge into royal chambers and order around the heir to the throne without even a proper greeting?”
“My apologies, Princess.” Otto gritted his teeth, ducking his head in a barely passable bow. “Now if you could-“
“That will be all, Ser Otto.” Rhaenyra interrupted. “I’m sure you have many duties to attend to. Ser Harrold if you could?”
Aegon watched in awe as Rhaenyra simply turned away, Ser Harrold coming forward to usher his grandsire out. Otto tried to protest but he was quickly overruled and soon left Rhaenyra alone with Aegon and his younger siblings.
“Right then.” Rhaenyra eyed them before nodding to herself. “Let’s go.”
“Go?” Aegon twisted to see Aemond had come forward despite Helaenas attempts to stop him.
“Yep.” Rhaenyra hummed, holding the door open for them. “Don’t worry, I’ve already talked to the king and everything.” Then, seeing the hesitation and doubt in their eyes, she smiled reassuringly. “We will go and see your mother first, alright? I can explain everything there.”
Hesitant, but eager to see his mother, Aegon led his siblings after Rhaenyra. They hurried through the halls towards his mother’s chambers, Rhaenyra not stopping to speak to anyone except to order one of the maids to bring their riding gear to the queens rooms. Helaena and Aemond tensed at that and Aegon squeezed their hands. They hadn’t seen their dragons since they had been locked in the tower and the part of his soul where Sunfyre resided ached from the separation.
Eventually they got to the queens rooms and Rhaenyra didn’t bother to have them announced, simply snapping at the men guarding the door before opening it herself.
Alicent jumped to her feet at their entrance, turning to snap at them for daring to enter unannounced before freezing at the sight of her children.
“Mother!” Aemond shot forward, dragging Aegon and Helaena with him as Rhaenyra shut the door.
“Oh my babies.” Alicent sobbed, gathering them into her arms and burrowing her face into Aemonds curls. “My children, oh my darlings!”
Aegon buried his head into her shoulder, taking in his mother’s lavender and cinnamon scent. He had missed her terribly, he realised as tears sprung to his own eyes. More than he had thought.
Eventually, Alicent stood, though she did not loosen her grip on them. Aegon shifted so that he was buried in her side, watching cautiously as Alicent met Rhaenyras gaze.
“You… you got my letter.” She croaked, her gaze seemingly full of both dread and hope.
“I did.” Rhaenyra confirmed, leaning back against the door.
“So, you accepted my terms?” Alicent swallowed, lifting a hand to thread it through Aemonds curls. “Is Aemond is to marry Daemon then?”
Aegon could feel Aemond go stiff, his scent warping into bitter horror at their mother’s words.
“No.” Rhaenyra denied. “No, Aemond will not marry him.”
Alicent closed her eyes, head falling in despair.
“So he will still marry Lord Baratheon then.” She whispered, resignation turning her sweet scent so sickly that Aegon fought the urge to cough.
“Absolutely not.” Rhaenyra shot forward, her anger turning her scent acrid and causing Helaena to whimper. Aegon swallowed his own whine, ducking his head in an attempt to appease the angry alpha before them. Again, Rhaenyra backed away, breathing deeply in an attempt to calm herself. “In fact, Princess Rhaenys has already flown to meet with her cousin and to make that clear.”
“What…” Alicent looked confused, her hands trembling as she soothed her children. “Why are you here then? I don’t understand.”
“I spoke with my father,” Rhaenyra said calmly, though Aegon could see the way her hands balled into fists momentarily, “and we came to an understanding. My siblings will come to ward with me and I will be responsible for any future betrothals and marriages. Father…” She paused for a moment, before pressing on, “The king insisted that he would not break Aemonds betrothal without the possibility of a better prospect replacing it so I offered to betroth one of my sons to him.”
She paused again, wincing briefly at the way Aemond turned to look at her, horror written all over his face. She hadn’t even told them the worst of it.
“He insisted that Aemond be betrothed to Luke. But!” She hurriedly pressed on, anticipating their protests, “He agreed that they will not marry until Luke comes of age and that gives me time, Alicent.” Rhaenyra strode forward, reaching up to cup Alicents face and brush her other hand over Aemonds hair. “It gives you and me and Aemond time to sort this out, alright?”
“So Aemond is to live under the same roof as the boy who took his eye?” Alicent whispered.
“No.” Rhaenyra sighed, ducking her head. “I- I sent Lucerys to ward at Driftmark. He will spend the majority of his time there.”
“Ok.” Aegons mother nodded. “Ok.” She whispered.
A knock on the door drew Rhaenyras attention and while she opened the door to admit the maids carrying their riding leathers, Alicent bent down to kiss each of their heads.
“Mother, I don’t want to leave you.” Aemond whispered, pressing close to her.
“Shh, my love.” Alicent pressed another kiss to his forehead, giving them a watery smile. “It’s the best way to keep you safe, alright? Don’t you worry about me.”
“You will see your mother, Aemond.” Rhaenyra called, drawing their attention to her. “I fly back every tenday for the small council meetings and part of my duties as your guardian will be to teach you to fly. Journeys across the bay between Dragonstone and Kings Landing will be good practice.”
“I promise,” She added, locking gazes with each of them before settling on their mother, “I will take good care of each of you.”