Chapter Text
Lucera didn't know what to do. One moment she was sleeping, then the next her cousins, Baela and Rhaena pulled her and Jacaerys out of bed telling them someone stole Vhaegar, their late mother's dragon. By the time all four children made it onto the beach, Lucera was in complete and utter disbelief at who just rode the mighty dragon. Aemond Targaryen, her uncle.
So many things happened all at once, a fight broke out between them and the youngest son of the King. Lucera tried to stop them, but Aemond shoved her away, calling her a bastard. Her brother came to her defense with a dagger, but Aemond hit him in the head with a rock, making the boy lose his grip on the blade. Lucera looked between the dagger, a disoriented Jacaerys, and an enraged Aemond approaching her defenseless brother with that same rock.
When the silver-haired boy pinned Jacaerys down and raised the rock in his hand, Lucera rushed forward. "No!"
Aemond brought the rock down with the force that will bludgeon his nephew's face in, but Lucera covered her brother's face and took a harsh blow to the head instead.
Baela and Rhaena screamed when blood flew from the young princess' head before she fell limp on top of her brother.
Their screams alerted the Kingsguard, pulling the boy off of the siblings.
"Lucy..." Jacaerys cradled his younger sister whose head was bleeding heavily as she stared wide eyed up at her brother. "...Lucy, can you hear me? Lu?" Jacaerys began to panic when he got no response, the only indication of her being alive was her shallow breathing.
Her brother's voice was the last thing she heard before darkness consumed her conscious.
Aemond felt like he's been put on trial, standing before the many adults in the room, under their judgement and scrutiny. Rhaenrya, her son Jacaerys, Laenor, Daemon, and his daughters Baela and Rhaena gave him fiery glares. Not that he didn't deserve it, he nearly killed his niece, his best friend. His mother and siblings stood beside him, Alicent looked positively guilty and frightful by what she has heard from her son and the children.
"Trapped in darkness; out of reach." Helaena muttered to herself as she stared at the ground with a distant look.
"Aemond," His father, Viserys Targaryen, stood over him with only a cane keeping him upright. He watched his youngest son with fury and disappointment. "Is what they said true? Did you try to kill Princess Lucera? Well?" He raised his voice, making the boy flinch.
"It was an accident." Aemond trembled under his father's gaze. "I didn't mean to."
"You had Jacaerys pinned down. You wanted to hit him." Baela said, glaring hatefully at the boy who stole a piece of her and her sister's mother. "But Lucera got in your path."
Aemond bowed his head, "Yes. I was angry." He admitted as he felt the anger from his half-sister burn into his soul.
"And what about Lucera? Will she live?" Alicent asked, her eyes filled with fear and guilt for her son and for her stepdaughter's child.
Rhaenyra glared at her former best friend, "None of us wants to hear false concerns from you."
The Maester of Driftmark bowed his head, "I stitched up the cut, but it was particularly swollen from the impact. She'll survive." He informed them after assessing and tending to the Princess.
Rhaenyra let out a shuddering breath of relief. She already lost one great love in her life, she cannot bear to lose any of her children, especially to the likes of Alicent. "May I see her?"
"She's still asleep, but it's fine as long as she's not disturbed." The Maester said before Rhaenyra left the hall to tend to her daughter. Passing by Aemond, she glared hard at her youngest brother, making him shrink beneath her gaze.
Laenor and Jacaerys followed after her, giving the young boy the same death stare. Baela and Rhaena trailed behind them to visit their cousin, each of them hissing at Aemond, "Dragon Thief." Daemon stayed in the same room and watched the boy with the stare of a hunter waiting to kill its prey.
"Daemon, please tend to your daughters. They need you right now." Viserys ordered his younger brother sensing the bloodlust within him.
Damon didn't respond as he made to leave the hall but paused in front of his brother's second wife. "Sleep with one eye open from now on. Especially you." Daemon whispered to his nephew with a threatening smile before he left the room.
Viserys watched one part of his family leave before he turned to his youngest. "Aemond, what you did cannot be undone. That dragon was the last remnant of Laena Velaryon, two daughters mourn her. For you to take a piece of that away is no different than murdering her." He said as he stared at his son with utter disappointment. With a slow and tired breath, his next words cut Aemond to the core, "You are forbidden from ever going near Vhaegar or any other dragon."
"But I claimed Vhaegar, it was my right as a Targaryen." Aemond protested, after being denied a dragon of his own for so long, he finally gets the mightiest of all dragons.
"Defy my orders, and I'll disinherit you before the entire Realm. You'll no longer be a Prince, or even a Lord." Viserys said, daring the boy to speak again.
Alicent tried to speak on her son's behalf, "Your Grace, you cannot-"
"Silence!" Viserys ordered his wife, "You are as much to blame for this! His actions reflect on you. This animosity between you and my heir has infected the younger generation." He angrily said as he glared at Alicent.
With that final word, the King left the hall with his Kingsguard.
Rhaenyra sat in the chair at her daughter's bedside the entire night. Her husband tried to pry her away to get her back to bed and have proper sleep, but Rhaenyra refused. She mesmerized her only daughter's features, the Valyrian facial structures as though carved from marble, and her midnight black hair that spilled out onto the pillow beneath her bandage-covered head. How the mother wished her child can open her eyes, to see those bright amethyst-colored gems stare up at her with the same pride, admiration and acceptance in spite of her flaws.
As though the Gods finally heard her, a moan came from the bed, making the Heir to the Iron Throne come closer.
"Mother..." The voice cracked as the young princess opened her eyes.
"I'm here sweetling, you're alright." Rhaenyra said with a tearful smile as she brushed her daughter's hair out of her face.
Lucera blinked as her eyes darted around the room. "Can you light a candle please?"
Her sudden request surprised Rhaenyra, "Lucy...it's morning. The sun's already out."
Lucera blinked rapidly before she began to hyperventilate.
"Lucy? Lucy?" Rhaenyra began to panic as she held her daughter's hand.
Lucy opened her mouth and released the shrillest scream that could be heard from King's Landing.
Laenor burst in through the door upon hearing his daughter's scream. "What happened?" His attention drawn to his wife and the child thrashing around in bed.
Rhaenyra tried to hold her daughter even as her flailing limbs hit her. "I don't know, she just started screaming!" She said, staring at Laenor pleadingly.
Laenor turned to the knight stationed outside the door, "Get the Maester." The Veleryon Heir approached the bed, his ears ringing from the piercing shrieks from their youngest.
"Lucera...calm down. It's gonna be alright." Laenor tried to comfort her amid the cries that spilled from her mouth.
But what the child said next froze their blood ice cold.
"I can't see! I can't see!" Lucera wailed as she cried in her mother's arms, "Help me, please! Mother please! I don't wanna be in the dark! Please Mother! Please!" She begged the only woman who she considers the most powerful being in the entire world, believing her love and strength can save her from darkness.
Rhaenyra's voice closed up as her heart completely shattered at her only daughter's cries. Her tears joined her baby girl's as she rocked her back and forth, the motion always soothed her children whenever they were tormented by the whispers of the court.
Rhaenyra glanced at her husband whose eyes screwed shut, but tears still escaped him in anguish for his daughter. Though she never came from him, they were still of Targaryen blood.
Aemond stood outside the chamber, just right next to the door. He woke up that morning to check on Lucera, to beg for forgiveness and apologize for his attack. But the screams halted his progress. The screams echoed off the stone walls, as though the Keep itself was crying. Standing outside Lucera's chamber, listening to her anguish tore him apart. She can't see. She's blind. It's all his fault.
His face filled with horror and guilt before he returned to his own chambers. He can never bring himself to enter Lucera's room, Rhaenyra will kill him. Upon entering the room, he began to hyperventilate and pace the room, pulling at the strands of his hair until his scalp hurt, his eyes burning.
"What have I done? What have I done? What have I done?..." Aemond repeated this mantra to himself as he realized the impact of his actions and what they've cost Lucera.
He grabbed the bedpost, resting his forehead against it before pulling his head back and slamming it against the polished wood. Though it hurt, he didn't stop repeating the action even as his ears throbbed and the blood stained the bedpost.
Alicent pulled the door open and rushed to her son. "Aemond stop that!" She said as she pulled her son away from the bedpost and was shocked at the sight of blood covering his face.
The tears never seized streaming down his cheeks as he breathed heavily. "It's all my fault."
"Aemond-"
"She's blind!" Aemond cried, "She can't see anymore!" He shook his head and gasped sharply, "It's my fault! It's all my fault!"
Alicent's eyes filled with tears as she brought her son closer to her, unmindful of the blood staining her white nightgown. She too heard the cries of Lucera. She realized with horror how this action could very well sign her son's death. In spite of Rhaenyra's sins, the one quality that stands out about her is her deep love for her children.
The next day, Alicent sent Aemond with Ser Criston Cole to Old Town. After the events at Driftmark and friction between the Greens and Blacks increasing, it was safer for her youngest son to stay away from King's Landing. Though it pained her to separate from her precious son, she can't bear the idea of letting Rhaenyra kill him.
While the King and the Greens returned to the Capital, Rhaenyra's family remained at Driftmark for an extra fortnight, still grieving over their losses and for Lucera to recover. During that time, tragedy struck House Velaryon once more as Laenor was killed by his love and burned beyond recognition. At least that's what the realm thinks.
Following the death of Laenor Velaryon was the wedding of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen in the tradition of Old Valyria. Bearing witness to the ceremony were their children, and the officiator.
Lucera, after recovering from her plight, listened to the ceremonial exchange. The smell of her mother's blood and Daemon mixing together hit her nose. Romantic, symbolic and revolting. Her sightless eyes gazed out at the sea, silently wishing her first father-figure a safe journey and thanking him for everything he tried. He did his best to protect their family, for that she will always be grateful.
Lucera closed her eyes and gently laid a hand on her eyelids.
'Now it's my turn to protect this family.'