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The Targaryen family dinner always ended in drama. One way or another. When both sides met, one could be happy if it didn’t turn out into a full blown fist fight.
Especially Aemond and Lucerys were like oil and water after Driftmark.
If it wasn’t them, Daemon would often be the cause of said fights. The Rogue prince was quick to draw his sword or to insult the Hightowers.
This night was different. While a fight almost did break out, it was actually Aegon who prevented it.
Though it was unclear, if for the better or the worse.
It all started when Viserys insisted that the whole family attend dinner together. To bring them all closer and mend old disputes.
Of course Viserys called a fight, resulting in one of his sons losing an eye, a ‘dispute’.
But the old king could be insistent.
“By the gods, I just wish for one supper, without fighting. ” he’d rasped that morning, his tone halfway between pleading and royal command. “All of you. Together. We are family!”
His rotten face that was not covered by the golden mask looked at them in desperation that could make people feel bad. Nearly, because only Rhaenyra shed a tear at this speech.
That's how all the family gathered in the great dining hall, faces illuminated by candlelight.
The Targaryen family dinners were never peaceful affairs.
But today one could taste the tension between the two fractions in the air. Aemond was glaring at Lucerys over the table.
The brown haired boy squeezed his hand around his knife and glared back.
Alicent sat stiffly beside the king, her hands folded neatly in her lap, looking so tense that it suggested she was regretting every life decision that had led her here.
She often looked over to Aegon with a stern glare.
Her eldest was drinking cup after cup of fine arbor red, giggling drunkenly and leaning forward to whisper in Jace's ear.
Rhaenyra sat between her father and her husband, her expression a polite, strained smile.
She knew her boys were both doing their best to look civilized and not like they were about to throw something across the table.
Helaena seemed unbothered, focused on a fat brown spider on her hand she found gods knew where. And she was now placing it on her drunk husband’s arm with a serene calm expression on her face.
The spider promptly crawled up Aegon’s tunic.
When dessert was served, the tension in the air grew thicker. Only a warning look from Alicent prevented Aemond from jumping Lucery's earlier.
At some point the maids picked up the young children to escort them to their chambers.
Then suddenly a loud ‘ding’ noise was heard, everyone's heads turning in the direction of the sound.
Aegon was holding up a cup and a spoon, grinning stupidly.
“Well,” he slurred drunkly, slouching back in his chair, “...shall we do something less depressing than pretending to enjoy each other’s company?”
Alicent eyes widening, looking back from the king to her son. Aegon always caused problems, but she was hoping he would hold back today.
Seems like she overestimated her son's already very humble abilities.
Jacaerys muttered under his breath, “That would be something...”
Daemon gave his nephew a sharp look, ready to draw Dark Sister for that disrespect.
Aegon didn't seem to be bothered by the hostile looks he was receiving. Instead he continued talking, sloshing around the wine in his cup.
“We could play a game! To get to know each other, as it was quite a while since we last gathered together…”, Aegon said, looking over at Lucerys and Jace. “Look how you’ve grown nephews.”
Now everyone looked confused and taken aback, not knowing what to say to such an absurd request.
I was actually the king that spoke first, turning all heads in gis direction.
“T- that…such a nice…nice idea..A- Ae..”, Viserys rasped, but he looked delighted at the prospect of them getting closer again.
“Very nice idea. You do that.”
Everyone looked flabbergasted. Even Daemon had a look of surprise on his face.
“And…what ‘game’ to get to know each other would you propose, brother?” Rhanyra asked, now that her father expressed his delight to the idea.
Others looked unsure and confused.
But the king had agreed, so they could hardly voice complaints.
“It’s called ‘Never have I ever’,” Aegon declared, with a wide, drunken grin. “The rules are simple. One person poses the question. If someone has done it, they drink.”
“A drinking game, Aegon? Really?”
Aemond hissed and his jaw tightened. He looked not amused, Aemond ever the uptight cunt that he was.
Aegon just grinned sweetly.
Everyone waits for Viserys to say something, maybe to now dismiss the childish idea, but the king was back to scooping up a piece of apple crumble, oblivious to the questioning looks.
He probably forgot what was happening.
“Seems like we play….'Never have I ever'..” Jacacerys said dryly. “Sounds harmless enough.”
Aegon clapped his hands together. “You say it, nephew! Let’s begin!.”
At first the questions were boring. Rhaenyra had asked ‘Never have I ever ridden a dragon’.
Aegon rolled his eyes at that.
Of course everyone except Alicent and Otto had raised their cups to drink.
(and the king, but nobody was paying attention to him.)
Not understanding at first that you have to pose a question you don’t already know the answer to.
At least Aegon had an excuse to drink.
The king had needed to be carried to bed at some point, but curiously enough they continued playing.
And it was Jace who started to make the game more exciting.
“Never have I ever…fooled around in the gardens”, Jace asked with a mischievous smile on his lips.
Alicent gasped at the inappropriate nature of the question and Rhaenyra eyed her son sharply. “Jace-”
She was interrupted as Aegon broke out in a laughing fit.
“Didn’t know you had it in you, nephew! Cheers to that!” Aegon barked out a laugh and raised his goblet high before taking a long gulp.
Alicent looked possibly paler with every second, her frown turning deeper.
She sharply eyed Aegon with disgust.
Otto Hightower too was angry with the openly demonstrated inappropriateness of his grandson.
Daemon then raised his glass and everyone kept their mouth shut. Accepting the new turn this game was taking.
The questions grew bolder, but never getting personal and crossing the line for a fight to break out.
[‘Never have I ever slept through a council meeting’. Even Alicent sighted and drank, much to Otto’s indignation.
‘Never have I ever slept in the dragon pit’ Aegon, Aemond and Jace raised their cups.
‘Never have I ever visited a pleasure house’, was Aegon's question. Of course. And Alicent nearly wanted to pull her hair out.
Aemond had sipped on his cup with a frown and a sharp look to his brother. Daemon drank with a smirk.
And everyone except Alicent were surprised, when Rhaenyra raised her goblet with a smile to Daemon. Aegon even forgot to comment on it and Rhaenyra was quick to ask the next question.]
But then it was Lucery's turn again and the boy looked at Aemond with a small malicious smirk.
“Never have I ever had....a pig as my first ever ‘dragon’.” At that even Jacaerys snickered.
Aemond glared daggers at his nephews as if it was possible for them to drop dead by sher will.
But then a cruel smirk crept on Aemond’s face and he looked surprisingly calm. Lucerys gulped under the gaze, squirming on his seat.
Rhanyra looked confused, trying to understand the sudden change of atmosphere.
“Seems like nobody drank at your question, nephew. Well, it’s my turn now.”
He leaned forward, one hand tapping lazily on the table. His expression was composed, except the cruel glint in his single violet eye.
“Never have I ever,” Aemond voice was cold. The sentence was drawn out with purpose. The tension in the hall was nearly visible. Everyone stared at the one eyed prince, waiting for him to finish the sentence.
Everyone could see that Aemond was furious.
“...slept with a member of House Strong.”
And Aemond’s eye snapped to Rhaenyra at that, before looking at his brown haired brown eyed nephews with a cruel knowing smirk.
The words dropped into the silence like a dagger. Alicent gasped, holding her napkin close to her chest.
What Aemond was suggesting could cost him his tongue.
The same accusation did cost Vaemond Velaryon his life, being publicly decapitated in the throne room by Daemon.
Rhaenyra sat frozen in her seat.
Lucery's eyes went wide at the question, looking at his mother, ready to jump from his seat and jump over the table to scratch Aemond’s other eye out.
Jacaerys’s jaw clenched so tightly it looked painful.
Their inheritance was an open secret in court.
Their lack of Targaryen features was often the cause of gossip since they were children.
Everyone saw how close the princess was with her knight Harwin Strong.
How similar her three oldest sons looked like him.
But to suggest something like that so bluntly, could be considered treason.
Alicent closed her eyes briefly, a flicker of despair crossing her face.
She had talked ill about Rhaenyra and her bastard children more than once, but she was scared for her son.
Especially because Daemon looked very furious, his hand on Dark Sister.
“Care to repeat that, nephew?” Daemon spit.
“I said, ‘Never have I ever slept with a member of House Strong’.
Aemond didn’t look scared. He leaned back with a smirk, looking around but resting his eyes on Rhanyra again. “Drink up, if it applies.”
Rhaenyra’s knuckles went white on her goblet, not raising it. Daemon slapped his hand on the table, standing up.
Lucerys looked like he might launch across the table. “You-”
But then, before anyone could do anything or speak further, Aegon raised his goblet and gulped a good amount of wine down.
The entire table went still and all turned their heads to look at Aegon. Confusion clear as day on their faces.
Even Daemon raised an eyebrow, letting go of Dark Sister.
Aemond blinked, thrown off for the first time.
Aegon swallowed, wiped his mouth, and leaned back, oblivious to the questioning glares.
Rhaenyra’s eyes narrowed, the first one to break the silence. “What…?”
Aegon looked genuinely confused, blinking dumbly. “What what?”
Helena even had stopped playing with Aegon’s hair and to find and pluck away the fat spider she put in there. She didn’t look shocked and confused as the others.
Just staring in the distance with furrowed brows.
“Why did you drink?”, asked Aemond, pinning Aegon under his gaze.
Aegon looked at his brother blankly, like he didn’t understand the question. He looked around, searching their faces for what he did wrong.
He blinked again, pushing his bottom lip forward in a pout.
“I’m quite sure that we were just…playing a drinking game?” Aegon slurred. “I’m just following the rules, brother.”
The blank stares didn’t stop, instead it looked like the mutual confusion only grew.
“I think uncle is too drunk again, to remember the rules of his own game.” Lucreys hissed into his brother's ears.
Jacaerys nodded absentmindedly, eyes not leaving Aegon.
“Hey, I heard that, nephew!” Aegon hiccuped. “Of’n fuckin course I remember the rules! If you’ve done it, you drink!”
Aegon raised his goblet with an annoyed look, as if he had to teach High Valerian to a stupid child.
There was a long, silent pause. Then…
“You slept with a member of House Strong?”
“There aren’t even women in House Strong, what is he talking about?”
“There aren’t even alive members of House Strong..?”
“Yes, there are Lucerys, I…think… emm his name was..ehh-..”
“What did you do now, Aegon!?”
“Must you shame your family this way, Aegon?”
“Who do you mean…?”
“This isn’t amusing, Aegon.”
Rhaenyra’s stern, loud voice cut through the loud muddled talking.
Aegon giggled and hiccuped. “I find your faces to be…very…amusing!”
“I know what I implied.,” he said, slouching back lazily. “Who said I’m jesting?”
Aegon could see them thinking.
Alicent suddenly looked very green in her face, matching her dress. Her eyes widened, looking around for a lurking figure standing in the corners.
She could practically hear the ‘thunk’ of wood against the floor.
The queen was too shocked to speak of her growing realisation though, leaving the rest to ponder and deduce who Aegon’s potential lay could've been.
Rhaenyra on the other hand looked devastated for another reason.
Was it possible that the father of her children coupled with another. Her younger brother nonetheless?
She couldn’t believe it, but she needed to ask.
“Just spit it out, brother! Have you slept with Harwin Strong or not?” The princess being sure, if there was any truth to Aegon’s words, it had to be the handsome knight of the City Watch. She was a bit confused about Aegon’s age at that time, but even then her younger brother knew no limits.
Aegon was already known for his intense interest in pleasures of the flesh, fooling around with servant girls and going to pleasure houses.
But her Harwin? It could just not be true.
Now it was Aegon who looked befuddled.
“Who’s Harwin again?”
Everyone at the table groaned. Rhaenyra looked relieved.
Aemond pressed his lips together, looking displeased. “The only Strong that’s alive is-”
Alicent’ eyes flicked toward him, pleading. Hoping Aemond would not speak it out loud. She looked ready to faint. “Don’t say it.”
“-Lord Larys.”
Lucerys made a strangled sound halfway between a laugh and a choke. “...the cripple?!”
Aegon scrunched his nose, displeased. “Don’t call him that!”
This was apparently the confirmation everyone needed.
Aemond exhaled through his nose, looking very disgusted. “Gods, I knew you were a degenerate brother, but that’s too much, even for you.”
“And you’re jealous I’m having more fun than you.”, hissed Aegon.
“How would that even work?” whispered Lucerys to his brother. “I mean, with a man. And being crippl- em?”
The boy quickly glanced to Aegon.
Jacaerys couldn’t answer, because Aegon had overheard.
He had a mocking smirk on his lips.
“Aww, you’re still so innocent, nephew.”, Aegon tsked sweetly, looking down at Lucerys.
“And besides, Larys may have a limp, but he still has a very functioning cock.”
Loud gasps were heard around the table.
Alicent was sweating, ripping her nails bloody.
But Aegon wasn’t finished. Unable to feel any shame he continued.
“I mean…when we’re done, he’s not the only one that can’t walk…propter- prop- properly!”
Aegon hiccuped and giggled, lost in thought.
Alicent looked ready to murder someone. She was close to fainting. One hand clutched the seven pointed star necklace.
Otto Hightower looked furious and ashamed by his grandson’s most inappropriate behaviour.
“This…this farce has gone on for much too long, Aegon. I think we should all return to our chambers.”
But Aegon raised his cup, wobbling slightly on his chair. “But grandsire. Don’t spoil the game.”
Aemond muttered, “You already spoiled it when you confessed to bedding the Lord Confessor.”
Daemon leaned back, looking amused. He was probably gloating that a child from a Hightower disgraced himself in such a way.
Although Aegon didn’t seem to mind this at all. He lacked shame in every regard (everyone knew this, after he was caught masturbating at the window facing the training yard at thirteen) , grinning drunkly from ear to ear.
How the Lord Confessor in question was handling all that was a mystery.
A mystery nobody really wanted to solve, as Aegon’s comments were already enough to trigger a mutual disgust.
“Finee”, Aegon whined, standing up while holding onto the table for dear life.
His movements sluggishly and disoriented from the godless amounts of arbor red.
Everyone else followed suit, wanting to leave this odd evening behind them.
While Aegon stumbled through the hall, Alicent's voice cut sharply through the air.
“And you better go back to your own chambers, Aegon. I don’t want to find you in Lord Larys chambers, nor the dungeons, nor-” Alicent shuddered, thinking back to Jacaerys question, “-nor the gardens!”
“Sure mother!”Aegon hiccuped and swayed in his walk.
It was just to his luck that Alicent Hightower had no idea of the secret passages.