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Aemond strode through the halls of the Red Keep, trying to conceal the anticipation welling up in his chest. He walked between Aegon and Jacaerys, who exchanged glances filled with an emotion Aemond couldn’t quite decipher. Something about the atmosphere made him think that maybe, just maybe, something good might await him at the end.
“It’s a surprise, brother,” Aegon replied, clapping him on the shoulder. “You’re finally going to get a dragon.”
Aemond’s heart skipped a beat. A dragon? Could it be true? He had dreamed of this for so long that, for a moment, he allowed himself to believe Aegon’s words. Perhaps, at last, they would accept him as an equal. He glanced at Jacaerys, searching for any hint of mockery, but Jacaerys maintained a serious expression, bolstering Aemond’s fragile hope.
When they reached the great hall, dimly lit, Aemond froze, trying to make sense of the shadows. A large, sturdy shape loomed before him—something his hopeful eyes first identified as a dragon.
“Is… is it mine?” he whispered, not daring to look at his companions, afraid that any movement might shatter the magic of the moment.
Aegon and Jacaerys couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into laughter. Aemond turned to them, confused, before redirecting his gaze to the figure in front of him. It wasn’t a dragon. It was a large, pink pig with clumsy straw wings attached to its back and a fabric tail tied with string. His illusions shattered in an instant. The smile on his face vanished, replaced by a mix of pain and humiliation.
Jacaerys was doubled over, pointing at the pig as if it were the best joke they had ever pulled. But all Aemond felt was the heat of humiliation burning in his cheeks. This was worse than he had imagined. Not only was he deemed unworthy of a dragon, but now, in front of his family, his longing had become a source of mockery.
He clenched his fists, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall. He wanted to scream at them, to make them feel his pain, but the words seemed caught in his throat. He took a step back, turning away from them, trying to hide the sorrow consuming him, though he knew they had already seen enough.
- - -
Aemond was still reeling. The humiliation from Aegon and Jacaerys’s prank had pushed him to his limit. The “Pink Dread” had brought laughter and ridicule that made him feel small, almost invisible among his family, who didn’t seem to understand what it meant to be without a dragon of his own.
When Lucerys, who hadn’t been part of the prank, found him, the situation was already unbearable. He had overheard his mother’s scolding of Jacaerys and, realizing the depth of Aemond’s shame, felt a mix of anger and regret. He approached his uncle in a secluded corner, but he had barely opened his mouth when Aemond spun around sharply, his eyes blazing and his voice trembling with suppressed rage.
“I don’t want to be your friend anymore, Lucerys!” Aemond exclaimed, his voice full of resentment. “Not yours or anyone in your family’s!”
Lucerys swallowed, startled by the intensity in Aemond’s words. He knew Aemond had always felt a sort of emptiness without a dragon, and although he himself had tried to steer clear of his brother and uncle’s pranks, his closeness to Jacaerys now seemed like a betrayal in Aemond’s eyes.
“I… I didn’t take part in that prank, Aemond. And I’m sorry for what they did to you,” he said, carefully measuring his words. “It wasn’t fair… and, for what it’s worth, I don’t stay silent when my brother does things like that.”
Aemond scoffed, trying not to let Lucerys’s words affect him. He was determined not to give in to his anger, but something about Lucerys’s sincerity piqued his curiosity.
“So what? That doesn’t change anything. I still don’t have a dragon, and now I have to endure my idiot brother and your stupid brother humiliating me. I don’t need your pity, Lucerys. I don’t want… yours or anyone else’s.”
But Lucerys didn’t back down. Perhaps that determination surprised Aemond, who had expected the younger boy to simply lower his head and leave, as everyone else did in the face of his anger.
“Then I’ll get you one,” Lucerys said, with an unusual confidence in his voice. “A dragon that no one can take from you. I don’t know how, but I will.”
Aemond stared at him in disbelief. Lucerys, with his clear eyes and serious expression, seemed completely resolute, and though Aemond’s pride kept him from showing it, he felt a strange warmth for a moment—a flicker of hope he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
But he wasn’t ready to give in just yet.
“Do whatever you want, Lucerys. But don’t expect me to hope for anything from you,” he replied dryly, though this time, the hardness in his voice had softened slightly.
- - -
Months after that conversation between Aemond and Lucerys, the young Velaryon was at home with his family when news arrived of Laena Velaryon’s death. Upon hearing this, Lucerys’s first thought was of Aemond: “Now he can claim Vhagar.” The promise to help Aemond returned to his mind, though the weight of guilt made him hesitate. What would Laena’s daughters think if he helped his uncle claim the dragon that had rightfully belonged to their mother?
Despite his doubts, Lucerys’s resolve won out, and as soon as he saw Aemond in Driftmark, he decided to fulfill his promise. One night, with his heart racing, he sought out his uncle’s chambers.
He knocked softly on the door. After a moment of silence, Aemond opened it, looking at him with surprise.
“Lucerys, what are you doing here at this hour?”
Lucerys swallowed hard, his eyes reflecting the intensity of his purpose.
“I promised you, Aemond. I said I’d get you a dragon. I overheard Daemon mention where Vhagar rests. If you come with me, we could get there before anyone else tries to claim her.”
Aemond regarded him with suspicion, his expression hardened by the distrust and resentment he still harbored. Yet in his eyes, a glimmer of hope shone—a chance to achieve his greatest dream. After a moment, a small, defiant smile formed on his lips.
“Are you sure about this, Lucerys?” he asked, his tone dark. “This could put you at odds with your own cousins, and Vhagar… Vhagar is no ordinary dragon.”
“I know,” Lucerys replied firmly. “But I want you to have the chance to claim her. I promised myself I would. Let’s go, before anyone sees us.”
Without another word, they made their way to the beach where Vhagar was said to rest. The path was cloaked in shadows, and the sound of the waves reminded them of the enormity of what they were about to attempt.
When they arrived, Vhagar’s silhouette loomed under the pale moonlight—immense and majestic. Lucerys felt a pang of fear, but seeing the determination in Aemond’s eyes gave him courage. For a moment, everything they had been—friends, rivals, family—faded into the background. This was Aemond’s chance, and Lucerys was there to ensure he didn’t lose it.
“There she is,” Lucerys murmured. “It’s up to you now.”
- - -
The night wind blew cold along Driftmark’s shores. Vhagar’s majestic figure lay on the sand, immense and powerful beneath the moon’s pale glow. Lucerys and Aemond approached in silence, their steps muffled by the damp sand, until they were just a few meters away from the sleeping dragon.
Aemond stared at Vhagar, his eyes alight with emotion and anxiety. His breath hitched as he took in the enormity of the moment. Lucerys watched his uncle, feeling a mix of pride and fear. In this instant, Aemond seemed larger, stronger, as though the weight of his determination had transformed him.
“This is your chance, Aemond,” Lucerys murmured, his voice trembling slightly.
Aemond nodded and, without looking back, stepped forward toward Vhagar. He moved cautiously, careful not to provoke the massive dragon’s wrath. When he reached her side, he took a deep breath and spoke the words in High Valyrian, his voice steady and filled with reverence:
“Dohaeris, Vhagar. Sōvētēs nyke.”
Vhagar’s eyes opened slowly, her golden gaze piercing as it fell on Aemond. A low rumble reverberated in her chest, making the ground tremble slightly. Lucerys held his breath, resisting the urge to step back from the overwhelming presence of the dragon.
Aemond stood firm, his fists clenched and his head held high, showing no fear. Gradually, Vhagar seemed to recognize something worthy in him. She inclined her head slightly and let out a deep sound, almost like an acceptance. Aemond extended his hand, feeling the heat of Vhagar’s scaly skin, and whispered reverently:
“Sōvēs, Vhagar. Sōvēs.”
With some awkwardness, Aemond climbed onto Vhagar’s back. The dragon rose slowly, spreading her immense wings, which cast a shadow over the beach. Lucerys watched from below, a mixture of admiration and fear in his eyes, as Vhagar took flight, spiraling higher and higher into the night sky.
Aemond and Vhagar’s silhouette stood stark against the starry expanse, dominating the heavens. Lucerys felt a pang in his chest, knowing this moment would mark a turning point for his uncle—and perhaps for himself as well.
When Aemond descended, his face was illuminated with a mix of euphoria and profound satisfaction. As he dismounted, he looked at Lucerys with a grateful expression, though his pride kept him from voicing any thanks. He didn’t need to. In his eyes shone an emotion Lucerys had never seen before: a spark of hope and, for the first time, genuine happiness.
This moment had forged something between them—a silent alliance that would connect them beyond any cruel joke or family grudge.
- - -
The echo of shouting reverberated through the dark halls of Driftmark. Aemond stood defiantly before Rhaena and Baela, their faces a mix of fury and grief. The tension hung thick in the air, and Lucerys, watching from the shadows, held his breath, feeling the weight of the situation.
“ Vhagar was our mother’s! ” Rhaena exclaimed, her voice trembling, tears welling in her eyes. “ You had no right to take her! ”
Aemond’s response was cold, almost impenetrable.
“Vhagar is no possession. She is a dragon. I claimed her, and she accepted me. If you wanted her, you should have done the same.”
Baela stepped forward, fists clenched with fury.
“
That doesn’t give you the right to steal her!
” she shouted, her voice breaking with anger and pain. “
She’s ours, not yours!
”
Jacaerys appeared, drawn by the commotion, and upon understanding the situation, joined his cousins, standing against Aemond.
“How could you do this?” Jacaerys asked, his voice filled with disbelief. “
It’s betrayal! Vhagar belonged to their mother!
”
Lucerys, silent until now, felt his chest tighten. He carried the weight of his decision heavily, and though he knew he had supported Aemond, the accusations from his family made him falter for a moment. Yet, the conviction that Aemond deserved a dragon remained steadfast in his heart.
Before the argument could escalate further, the adults of the family, drawn by the tumult, arrived. Viserys, Alicent, Rhaenyra, and Daemon appeared in the corridor, their faces a mixture of concern and bewilderment. Daemon, noticing his daughters’ distress, quickly approached Rhaena and Baela, his brow furrowed.
“What is going on here?” he asked, his voice firm but controlled as he looked at his daughters with worry. “Why are you shouting?”
Rhaena took a shaky breath, her eyes still burning with pain and anger, and pointed to Aemond.
“
Aemond has taken Vhagar, Father!
” she exclaimed bitterly, tears streaming down her face. “
He says he claimed her!
”
Daemon turned his gaze to Aemond, disbelief and anger evident in his expression. But before confronting him, he looked to Jacaerys, who nodded, confirming Rhaena’s words.
Meanwhile, Alicent moved to Aemond’s side, placing a protective hand on his shoulder. She remained silent, her expression a mix of worry and defensiveness as she observed the scene unfold.
It was at this moment that Lucerys, who had been lingering in the shadows, felt compelled to speak. He saw the anger and reproach directed at Aemond, and despite the fear that Daemon’s presence and the others’ judgment inspired in him, he stepped forward, resolute.
Before Daemon could address Aemond, Lucerys positioned himself between them, head held high and face determined.
“
If you want to blame someone, blame me!
” he declared firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. He looked at each person present with unwavering determination. “
I’m the one who led Aemond to Vhagar.
”
“ Why would you do that, Lucerys? ” Baela shouted, her voice laced with betrayal. “ How could you help him take Vhagar from us? ”
Rhaena’s voice joined, thick with tears of helplessness.
“
You betrayed us! Vhagar is our family—our mother’s!
”
Lucerys took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everyone’s stares but showing no regret. He faced his cousins with surprising calm.
“I did it because I promised Aemond he would have a dragon,” he said without hesitation. Then, turning to his mother, who watched him with both confusion and sadness, he continued, “I made him a promise, Mother, and I kept my word. Aemond was worthy. Vhagar chose him, and I do not regret helping him.”
Rhaenyra stared at her son, trying to understand him. Despite the confusion and anger in her expression, there was something in Lucerys’s gaze—a deep resolve and an unbreakable bond with Aemond—that she had never noticed before.
Daemon, too, studied Lucerys, his hardened expression betraying a flicker of surprise. Yet, he made no move to intervene.
Viserys, perceiving the intensity in Lucerys’s voice and demeanor, realized that his grandson was defending more than just Aemond. There was a special connection between the two boys—one that transcended family loyalties. Lucerys was willing to stand against everyone for Aemond, and such determination was impossible to ignore.
Alicent, still with a protective hand on her son’s shoulder, regarded Lucerys with quiet understanding. Aemond, on the other hand, watched him in silence, his eyes reflecting a profound gratitude he couldn’t put into words.
Rhaenyra stepped forward, her face a mixture of sorrow and bewilderment.
“
Why, Lucerys?
” she asked softly. “
Why risk so much… for him?
”
Lucerys, unwavering, met her gaze with unshakable determination.
“Because Aemond deserves a dragon as much as any of us,” he replied firmly. “Vhagar found him worthy, Mother. I only gave him the chance to let her decide. I have no regrets, because I know he has found in her something he’s always longed for.”
The intensity of his words resonated in the corridor. Rhaenyra looked at him with a mix of surprise and pain, as though seeing her son in a completely new light. Daemon, though still angry, couldn’t help but admire Lucerys’s courage in speaking so openly, knowing he was facing everyone to honor his promise.
Finally, Viserys raised a hand, his commanding presence calming the room.
“What’s done is done,” he said gravely. “Dragons are not possessions. Vhagar chose Aemond, and that is something we must all respect. Lucerys made a decision, and in doing so, demonstrated what it means to be worthy of a dragon.”
Daemon, though still displeased, accepted Viserys’s ruling, knowing that pressing the matter would only deepen the rift between their families. Alicent pulled Aemond close in a protective embrace, while the adults began to disperse, the matter resolved in the king’s eyes.
Lucerys remained at Aemond’s side, his chest heaving but his face calm. He knew his decision had placed him at odds with his cousins, but he had no regrets. Aemond watched him in silence, his eyes filled with a gratitude that spoke louder than words. That night, Lucerys had proven that his promise went beyond family rivalries—it was a bond that neither judgment nor anger could break.