Chapter Text
Aemond and Ser Criston returned to the castle with no sign of Aegon, he was still missing and Aemond simply knew that his grandsire had not found him either. His mother was not at all happy when they came back empty handed.
She glared heavily at Ser Criston like it was his fault, then convincing herself that his grandsire, her father, had found him and was hiding him. She started pacing and Aemond sighed softly. “He never wanted to be king.” Helaena said from behind them. “And he never will be as far as he is concerned.”
Aemond turned to his sister, the girl was quiet after that as their mother stared at her. She was always quiet though.
“Yes, he does.” Alicent said, still trying to convince herself that they were all doomed if Aegon didn’t sit on the throne.
“Perhaps, speaking with Princess Rhaenrya… could do?” Helaena asked with a tilt of her head, there however was a strange spark of fire in her eyes, as if she planned on going to talk to their half-sister, Rhaenyra, whether or not Alicent said okay. Aemond wouldn’t even be surprised if Helaena already knew what their mother’s answer would be but asked it anyway.
“No.” Ser Criston stepped in and Aemond almost sneered, this man almost always jumped in like he was apart of their family. He wasn’t and never would be as long as Aemond was still on this earth. He hated the man.
Helaena paid him no mind, staring directly at Alicent. “No, if we surrender, there will only be bloodshed.” Their mother spoke quickly.
Helaena stared at her. “Have you thought about… maybe surrendering ourselves to Princess Rhaenrya… that all bloodshed could be avoided?”
“She would never allow any of you to live.” Alicent scoffed. “You all are threats to her throne.”
Helaena stared at Alicent blankly, Aemond saw the flash of angry in her sister’s eyes but the women turned around and left the room in one swift move. Alicent said no more, going over to the window and watching the skies.
–
Aemond stepped into his sister’s rooms and watched as she played with her children, the sweet beautiful children. “You know where Aegon is, don’t you?”
Helaena gave him a broken smile. “Of course I do, dear brother. He’s not in Kings’Landing… if that’s what you are wondering.”
Aemond stopped dead, how had they not thought about the dragonpit? Was Sunfyre gone? “Yes.” Helaena said in the middle of his thoughts. “He ran off as soon as he heard father’s death.” She said softly.
“Where is he then?” Aemond asked.
“You’ll figure it out eventually.” Helaena said, turning back to her children and proceeding to ignore Aemond’s very existence.
–
Alicent entered his chambers later that night and stared at him. “Why haven’t you gone and found your brother yet? You’re the only one with a dragon other than Helaena… and she won’t go. She doesn’t trust leaving her kids.” His mother said with a scoff, like she could fandom why Helaena might be that way.
Aemond scoffed. “Because… he doesn’t want to be king, mother. Why force him?”
“He doesn’t know what he wants.” His mother insisted.
“Yes, he does. He has every right to make choices of his own, dear mother.” Aemond said and then sighed, “I’ll go look for him…” He agreed and his mother brightened a bit. “But I will not force him back here.”
His mother did not look pleased with that answer whatsoever.
–
His grandsire, Otto Hightower, approached him right before Aemond was about to enter his chambers for the night. “Grandsire.”
“Aemond,” he said. “I suppose you are going to go look for your brother in the morning?”
“Of course, my mother has asked it of me.”
Otto slapped him. “You and your mother.” He cursed. “You will bring Aegon to me when you find him.” Aemond had all but run off before his grandsire could speak to him early.
Aemond flinched but nodded, ignoring the slight sting.
Otto nodded. “Good.” He said and started walking away.
Aemond, despite his entire soul telling him against it, would refuse to bring Aegon to him, ever. He likely wasn’t even going to bring Aegon himself back. He had already said he wouldn’t if Aegon refused to come back.
–
Aemond was about to leave to find Vhagar outside the city when Helaena approached him. “I would go with you… but I don’t trust our grandsire near my children…” She whispered, looking over at where her three children were planning in the grass with toys.
“It’s okay, sweet sister.” He said softly with a smile. She gave one of her true, real smiles not one of her far away smiles. Aemond kissed her on the cheek and then left her.
–
It had taken hours for Vhagar to finally find Sunfyre. Aemond didn’t like the fact that they were flying over Dragonstone right now, that meant that Aegon was here. Had he ran off to surrender his crown? He definitely had and Aemond couldn’t blame him considering how much he had been against it.
Aemond was also convinced that Aegon never would have been a good king. Aemond debated landing or not and ended up on the other side of Dragonstone, landing Vhagar.
It was not long before his half-sister, of all people, found him, course it wasn’t hard considering how big Vhagar was. “Prince Aemond.” She spoke softly, she was alone too. How strange.
Aemond said nothing at first, taking in her appearance. Dressed in the Targaryen colors, red and black, dark lilac eyes on him, her hair in the classic Targaryen braids, the round curve that was the growing third baby of her and Daemon’s. He had never taken the time to truly admire his sisters appearance and nearly had the urge to smirk. “Princess - or is it Queen now?”
Rhaenyra stared at him. “My brother surrendered… considering his dragon is here and in one piece.”
Rhaenyra didn’t respond at first, watching her half-brother closely. “Alicent wanted you to find him, didn’t she?”
“He doesn’t want the throne. What’s the point of forcing him to come back?”
“Perhaps, you do actually have a brain.” She said, lightly joking, “Yes, he surrendered… However, that does not count either Alicent or Otto.” She said and he began to speak before she put her hand up. Despite not wanting to, he listened to the silent command and closed his mouth. “Neither want me on the throne.”
“Grandsire… I understand.” he said slowly. “But why my mother… I’m sure - “
“She won’t… at least not immediately.” She said slowly. “Will you surrender though?”
“My brother - “
“And you have the largest dragon in the world.” Rhaenyra cut in.
Aemond nodded, that made a lot of sense. He was very much a threat with a dragon this big and experienced, probably a bigger threat then any of them. “If my brother sees you as his queen… then you’re my queen.” He answered, smirk playing on his lips now. “I’m quite surprised though… Why are you here alone? Surely uncle would’ve joined you.”
“He has training with the kids, he would never refuse them.” She answered lightly. “You wish to stay, I presume?”
Aemond stared at her and then blinked, she laughed. “Come… rooms are being made for you already.”
They walked back to the castle in absolute silence.
–
Aemond watched as Rhaenyra stepped into the Dragonstone castle. He had never been here before and decided that it was one of the most beautiful things in the world. The entire island was perfect… and surrounded by nothing but water. Not to mention, there were several unclaimed dragons that roamed the skies and mountains.
Aemond stopped briefly when Rhaenyra started speaking to one of the knights, from what he could tell… she was asking the guard to collect someone.
She stepped back up to him. “Your brother will find you shortly.” She said softly, leading him further down the hall. “A guard will remain with you at all times when you are outside your chambers…” She said and Aemond nodded, understandingly. It wasn’t a surprise that she didn’t completely trust him and he was okay with that. But he had no intention of ever harming her or any of her family.
Aemond decided that he really wanted nothing to do with his grandsire or mother any longer. Everything would be calmer here. “Your sister will be okay.” Rhaenyra said out of nowhere. “I have no intention of ever hurting her.”
Aemond smiled slightly. “Good… she's innocent in all of this. She always was.”
Rhaenyra nodded. “I know.” She turned on her heel and disappeared down the hallway. Aemond turned to find a guard watching him and he didn’t even bother to say anything, just entered the room.
–
Aegon II Targaryen didn’t know what to believe when one of the guards from the castle interrupted his drinking to inform him of his brother's arrival. He’s probably looking for me, Aegon scoffed inwardly, he wouldn’t allow his brother to drag him back to Kings’Landing though.
–
The guards led him to Aemond’s room and he knocked on the door, stepping in. Aemond was at the window in the room, watching Syrax, Caraxes, Arrax, and Vermax flying together in circles outside. His own dragon, Sunfyre was probably resting around this time. “Brother.”
Aemond looked over at him. “Brother.” He said with a light bow of his head. “So you planned on running off without a word?”
“We both know that if I was in any serious trouble… Helaena would’ve looked for you.” They knew of her dragon dreams, she always kept them to herself… or most of the time. Their mother never took interest in them, as much as she should though.
“How was Helaena… when you left her?” Aemond sighed softly, watching as Aegon asked that question. True concern was in his eyes, Aegon loved her and their kids in his own twisted way Aemond guessed, despite never giving them any attention outside of duty.
“She refused to let her children out of her sight.”
“The Queen and Prince Consort plan on taking Kings’Landing as soon as possible. I don’t think Rhaenyra will like Helaena now being left there alone.”
“She’ll be okay…” Aemond assured him and Aegon didn’t say anything further. Aemond was trying to convince himself that she could protect herself from grandsire, he knew their mother would never dare harm Helaena.
“You came looking for me, didn’t you?”
“I told mother I would look for you,” Aegon sneered. “However, I told her that I would not force you back to the Red Keep if you did not want to.” Aegon’s sneer turned into relief.
“I’m better off free.” Aegon said simply. “I was never fit to rule.”
Aemond couldn’t help but agree. “I’m surprised Uncle let you live.”
“He really didn’t want,” Aegon spoke sheepishly. “But Rhaenyra convinced him it was probably better if they wanted to try and form a truce with you and Helaena. Rhaenyra doesn’t believe that they can spare either mother or grandsire however.”
“Mother's - “
“Completely convinced that a woman should not ever be allowed to sit on the throne.” Aegon said carefully. “You should get to know our nephews, they’re actually quite nice.”
“Her bas - “
“Don’t.” Aegon said sharply and Aemond snapped his mouth shut. “They’re allowing us to live, do not go ruining that brother.”
Aemond sighed, he was right. He should not have almost called them ‘bastards.’ They were still family. However much he hated it. “I’m sure someone will come find you for dinner.” Aegon said before he left Aemond alone in his room, closing the door behind him.
–
Aemond looked back out the window once his brother was gone, watching the dragons. It was a beautiful sight. Dragons should never be chained up and forced into cells. The very thought of the dragonpit made him disgusted.
Dragons thrived better out in the open.
Aemond watched as Syrax and Caraxes curled up with each other, Arrax beside her. Dragons were quite the creatures and he loved them.
He still remembers the moment he had grown his bond with Vhagar, he had been so convinced for a long time that it would never happen. That he would never get a dragon. In truth, he didn’t even mean to claim Vhagar when he did but hadn’t even thought about the consequences. It was only when he got back that he truly remembered that Vhagar had belonged to Laena Veleryon and her children were ruthless - probably the Daemon in them too.
He didn’t exactly blame Lucerys for the loss of his eye. The kid was only seven, and Aemond had been threatening his brother’s life. That never did stop him from hating the kid though. He had a strong grudge against them - due to the fact they were bastards as well.
–
Aemond had lost track of the time, leaning on the window and dozing when he heard a knock. At this time, the sun was disappearing behind the ocean and he turned to look over at whom had disturbed him.
“Prince Aemond,” The guard spoke. “You are to dine with the Queen and her family.”
Aemond said nothing but nodded his head, standing up, figuring that the guard was probably going to have to escort him.
He was right, the guard led him down the long hallways. He wasn’t paying attention to much of anything other then the many dragons that was on the walls and everything was beautiful.
He was upset that he had never been allowed on Dragonstone before this, their ancestral seat was perfect in his eyes. It actually had Targaryen and Old Valyria written and carved all over it.
Mother had completely ruined the Kings'Landing castle with the Seven. He hated it, he out of all his siblings had taken the most interest in everything dragons and Targaryen.
He entered the dinning hall and everyone from Rhaenyra’s family was there - excluding Rhaenys… which, he wondered if ‘The Queen who Never Was’ was still stuck in the tower where his mother had locked her into her own room. He inwardly sneered at that lack of respect. Rhaenys didn’t deserve that. He also inwardly sneered at himself for forgetting that piece of information.
“Prince Aemond.” Daemon said with a mockingly smirk and then beckoned him towards one of the seats at the table, besides him. Aemond was tense as he sat down. Lucerys and Jacaerys were glaring at him, as were Daemon’s girls. Joffrey, Aegon III, and Viserys II seemed to be the only ones that didn’t hate him and that made sense. His brother was no where to be found from the looks of it.
“I’m sure he’s off whoring himself somewhere.” His uncle and the Prince Consort answered his unasked question.
Rhaenyra glared at the Prince and Aemond smirked with a look of delight when Daemon just rolled his eyes.
Despite the undying hatred between half the people at the table and Aemond, they managed to get through the feast with paece. Aemond had kept his mouth shut, not trusting himself not to make a Strong comment. Aemond figured that his half-sister and uncle had spoken to them before this.
Daemon would probably kill him like he did Vaemond, even his brother didn’t seem to like it when they called the children bastards, despite what they were.
A couple maids came in soon and took Aegon the younger and Viserys away for bed. Lucerys and Jacaerys quickly disappearing after, as if they had gotten tired of simply sitting there and glaring at Aemond. Baela and Rhaena had requested their father, his uncle, to take them to bed. He inwardly scoffed at their childish antics.
Rhaenyra leaned forward a bit and they sat in silence. “How are you enjoying yourself so far?” She finally asked.
“Your children hate him.” Aemond said plainly, finally moving his plate away from himself. He truly hadn’t ate much and he could see the concern written all over his dear sisters face, he didn’t say anything about it.
“They’ll warm up…” She said softly. “As long as you do not threat or use any vile insults on them.” She added with a sneer and he just ducked his head.
“Yes, my queen.” He said, politely.
This seemed to settle whatever nerves that his dear sister must have been dealing with. She stood up and stared at him. “You should get some sleep… I’m sure you were riding Vhagar for quite a long time before you finally found Sunfyre and Aegon here.”
Aemond nodded his agreement before standing up and they met eyes briefly. Rhaenyra actually smiled at him and he couldn’t help the half smile he gave her.
Aemond was convinced that Alicent had been hating a person that wasn’t truly Rhaenyra at all. He could see it in the Queen’s eyes, she had no intention of hurting him - or his siblings. “Thank you sister.”
“Of course,” Rhaenyra said softly, stepping closer to him and taking his hand briefly, to squeeze. “I never hated you.” She whispered softly and then left the room before he could even think about responding.