Mastermind // Aemond Targaryen (1)

16. Tour

''Grandmother?'' Rhaena questioned

''Rhaena. Baela said you might be here.'' Rhaenys remarked hugging her.

''She's done well as your ward. You've, um... raised her admirably.'' Rhaenyra said coming up behind them in the gardens.

''You honor me, Princess.'' Rhaenys said softly her face pinched slightly ''Might I speak to the Princess alone, Rhaena?'' Rhaena nodded heading off.

''Princess.'' Rhaena said heading inside.

''I wondered for many an hour what your purpose was in coming here. Whether you'd speak for or against the suit brought by Ser Vaemond. But then, I realized... you intend to advocate for yourself.'' Rhaenyra remarked calmly. ''This is no fair proceeding. It is a trap set by the Queen and the Hand, I'd wager, to proclaim my son illegitimate.''

''Yet you did worse than that with Laenor. Did you not?'' Rhaenys spat.

''I loved your son. You may not believe it to be true, but I did. I did not order his death. Nor was I complicit in it. I swear this to you.'' Rhaenyra didn't kill Laenor. He was in fact still very much alive. It was the truth everything she said, the truth. ''I'll make you an offer. Back Luke's claim, and let us betroth Laena's children to mine. Baela will be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and her sons will be heirs to the throne. Rhaena will rule in Driftmark, and... the seat will pass to her and Lucerys's children in time.' Rhaenyra said quickly.

'A generous offer.'' Rhaenys agreed ''Or a desperate one.'' She added stiffly

'' What does it matter?' Rhaenyra countered and Rhaenys chuckled softly.

''You are right in this, at least. It does not matter.'' Rhaenys agreed ''You can bargain with me all you like. Bring my granddaughter with you to soften my resolve. But tomorrow, the High towers land their first blow. They force you to your knees... and I must stand alone."

+

"I'm not going to lie, that was so sexy. Almost as sexy as you riding a dragon." Uri told Aemond confidently.

"You are easily impressed them." Aemond teased.

"I'm sorry do you fuck every stranger you meet in a cave after teasing them 50 feet in the air?" Uri countered.

"You would be the first. For all of it." Aemond remarked and Uri took a step back.

"I took your virginity." She whispered. Aemond had been with a whore at the age of 13. Aegon had brought him to a pleasure house. But that didnt count in his mind. "Gosh is that like some sacred thing for princes in this realm? Probably not right." Uri said thinking it through. "If roles were reversed that would cause a stink." Aemond chuckled pulling her along.

"What do you mean?'

"Well for starters, wow." Uri told him happily, he kissed her cheek as she leaned into him. "But if hypothetically I was the princess and you the handsome stranger that would be... scandalous."

"Yes. But I am very much a man and rules don't typically apply."

"How sexist." Uri remarked. "It's a good thing that works in my favor this time.' She added with a wink.

"Uri you are... perfection." Aemond told her softly as he kissed her again. She hummed into his mouth.

"You gonna give that tour?" Uri whispered against him.

"Of my chambers?" Aemond suggested.

"Oh.. yes... lets start there." Uri agreed. He didn't know what it was about Uri but she was infatuating. Her energy, her powers, he felt her warmth and it radiated off of her. It made him cling to her. Desperate for her touch.

+

''Alicent? Alicent...'' Viserys said with a heavy breath.

''No, it's Rhaenyra, father.'' She heard his stiff breath in his lungs as he looked to her.

"Rhaenyra." He murmured softly as thunder raged outside the window. He was in no fit state to do or be any use for the meeting.

"The Song of Ice and Fire." Do you believe it to be true?" Rhaenyra asked eagerly.

''Aegon's Dream.'' Viserys agreed

''You told me it was our duty to hold the realm united against a common foe. By naming me heir, you divided the realm." Rhaenyra reminded him, Viserys continued breathing heavily, pained breaths Rhaenyra didn't recognize her father anymore. ''I thought I wanted it. But the burden is a heavy one.' Rhaenyra admitted softly. ''It's too heavy.''

''My... My only child.''

''If you wish me to bear it, then defend me. And my children." Rhaenyra begged. Viserys gave a head sigh closing his eyes. Rain poured down, thunder raged around them. ''It's...''

Viserys murmured and Rhaenyra sniffled at his side crying, she didn't want to lose him. She waited too much time.