Chapter Text
Mother have mercy.
The door shook on its hinges. Wood straining against every impact.
Mother have mercy.
Tables, chairs, dressers, bed. Furniture and objects of all manner piled against the room's opening. An opening that was losing.
Mother have mercy.
She cradled the bundle in her arms, rocking slowly as her son's cries filled the room.
Mother have mercy.
Her whispers and soothing did nothing to ease his suffering, yet still she continued. She wondered if it was solely for Aegon's benefit that she did so.
Mother have mercy.
A sharp crack filled the room, the door's edge bending unnaturally. The lock had held; the door had not. A slow pushing forced the entry wider, her efforts proving little more than an annoyance to the besieger.
Mother have mercy.
Then he emerged. Tall, the tallest man she had laid eyes upon, both the first time and since. Clad in a yellow surcoat with three dogs over mail, missing much of the heavy plate she knew he was often clad in. His helmet covered all but a thin slit for the eyes and holes for his breath, with a clenched fist emerging from its top.
Mother have mercy.
He pushed through the makeshift barrier, kicking desks and tables and every manner of safety to the side while she clutched the crying babe to her chest.
"The Dornish whore and her whelp, missing their protector."
Mother have mercy.
"I beg of you. Do what you will to me, but spare my son." She knew he wouldn’t accept. She knew. Yet what mother would she be if she did not try?
"Beg?" He dropped his sword, a comically small thing when compared to the man himself. "I'll show you how to beg."
Mother have mercy.
She backed away, moving further towards the far wall in a futile hope of rescue. Aegon's cries became muffled as she pulled him tighter to her chest, as the man her husband knighted stepped ever closer, enjoying the chase.
Mother have mercy.
"Please, I—" And yet the chase soon ended as his foot came down on her ankle, forcing a cry and sending her to the floor. Her grip on Aegon faltered, not enough to let him go, but enough for Clegane to see. An oversized gauntlet gripped onto her wrist, prying it away with a sharp crack as her bone gave way and fresh sobs broke through.
Mother have mercy.
The other hand reached for her son, her child, her Aegon. And she knew there would be no more delays, no more waiting. Nothing but pain and death.
Mother have mercy.
So she watched his hand grow closer, resigned herself to the end, and Elia gave one last prayer to the gods above.
Mother have mercy.
Stranger have none.
Then the room filled with blinding gold.